In Victoria communities are counting the cost of recent catastrophic bushfires. Some firefighters claim funding cuts to the Country Fire Authority have left them dangerously stretched. 7.30’s Alysia Thomas-Sam reports. | 7.30

CHEMICAL FIRE - DERRIMUT Crews from Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority are responding to a structure fire at a factory on East Derrimut Crescent in Derrimut. Firefighters are alerted by a Triple Zero (000) call at 10:13am on 9 January reporting a chemical fire. On arrival, crews find thick black smoke issuing from the building. Around 20 appliances attend the scene as firefighters work to bring the fire under control. Smoke is billowing for kilometres across Melbourne’s western