Six weeks after fires devastated parts of southern Australia, residents of one of the worst-affected towns have finally been allowed to go home.
Six weeks after fires devastated parts of southern Australia, residents of one of the worst-affected towns have finally been allowed to go home.
Marysville was almost completely destroyed by bushfires on 7 February.
Marysville was almost completely destroyed by bushfires on 7 February.
It has been sealed off ever since by the police, who have been searching for the remains of victims and investigating suspicions of arson.
It has been sealed off ever since by the police, who have been searching for the remains of victims and investigating suspicions of arson.
Bushfires ripped through south-eastern Australia early this year, killing more than 200 people.
Bushfires ripped through south-eastern Australia early this year, killing more than 200 people.
Forty-five people died when fires tore through Marysville, north-east of the Victorian state capital, Melbourne.
Forty-five people died when fires tore through Marysville, north-east of the Victorian state capital, Melbourne.
The destruction of the picturesque town became a symbol of the bushfire disaster, the worst in Australia's recent history.
The destruction of the picturesque town became a symbol of the bushfire disaster, the worst in Australia's recent history.
Search for clues
Search for clues
For six weeks Marysville has been sealed off as investigators searched for signs of arson and more victims among the charred wreckage of homes, businesses and cars.
For six weeks Marysville has been sealed off as investigators searched for signs of arson and more victims among the charred wreckage of homes, businesses and cars.
Victoria's Deputy Police Commissioner Kieran Walshe says the forensic work in Marysville is over.
Victoria's Deputy Police Commissioner Kieran Walshe says the forensic work in Marysville is over.
"It's in excess of 4,000 buildings and structures that we've searched in the last couple of weeks, so it's been a massive exercise to get that done," he said.
"It's in excess of 4,000 buildings and structures that we've searched in the last couple of weeks, so it's been a massive exercise to get that done," he said.
"We're comfortable now that we've located and recovered all human remains," he added.
"We're comfortable now that we've located and recovered all human remains," he added.
Among the residents finally allowed to return to Marysville is Merrin Guest, who has been sifting through what remains of her home.
Among the residents finally allowed to return to Marysville is Merrin Guest, who has been sifting through what remains of her home.
"It's just corrugated metal from the roof and a few chimneys and that's all that was left of our place when we went in. It was completely flattened," she said.
"It's just corrugated metal from the roof and a few chimneys and that's all that was left of our place when we went in. It was completely flattened," she said.
"I just had this huge sense of, 'Oh, thank goodness we can now start to move forward'," she said.
"I just had this huge sense of, 'Oh, thank goodness we can now start to move forward'," she said.
A judicial inquiry is examining the causes of the deadly fire outbreaks and the responses of the emergency services.
A judicial inquiry is examining the causes of the deadly fire outbreaks and the responses of the emergency services.
Are you from Marysville or other parts of the area affected by the fires? Have you been able to return home? Send us your experiences.
