Australian firefighters are battling two emergency-level bushfires across Victoria as volatile conditions fuel what authorities describe as a rapidly evolving and dangerous crisis. The most severe, the out-of-control Longwood fire in central Victoria, has already scorched more than 130,000 hectares, cut power to tens of thousands of homes and prompted a state of disaster declaration across 18 local government areas.
Front-line volunteers have described apocalyptic scenes as flames close in on major transport routes. In one widely shared video filmed on Friday, a firefighter is seen slowly driving a truck along the Hume Freeway as towering flames line both sides of the road beneath a jet-black sky. “This is insane. Hume freeway, southbound,” he says in disbelief. The footage was later posted online by his wife, who thanked firefighters for “running towards the danger” and urged Victorians to leave water bowls or buckets out for wildlife fleeing the fires.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned on Saturday that the Longwood blaze “is very much uncontained” and moving southeast towards Alexandra. Residents in affected areas have been urged by VicEmergency to stop using water and to rely on battery-powered radios as conditions change quickly with strengthening winds.
“I implore Victorians in the fire-affected areas to make sure they are tuned to the emergency broadcaster today and to keep checking the VicEmergency app,” Heffernan said.
Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed there were 36 active fires across the state, with 19 emergency warnings in place and 16 relief centres operating. She said an unknown number of homes and properties had been destroyed, but full damage assessments could only begin once it was safe for crews to access the areas.
“We have seen property losses at a number of locations,” Allan said. “Impact assessment teams will go in when conditions allow to give us a firm number.”
Local MP Annabelle Cleeland reported that “townships were destroyed overnight” in parts of the region. In Ruffy, several properties including a school were lost, and a local firefighter was hospitalised with third-degree burns to his hands.
Residents have been forced into heartbreaking decisions. Courtney Hamil, from Euroa, told ABC News she stayed behind to defend her property so her horses could survive, despite official advice to leave. “We are lucky — the neighbours’ houses have been burnt to the ground,” she said tearfully. “People are losing their minds a little bit.”
Authorities confirmed that two adults and a child previously reported missing were found safe. However, a man in his 60s was found dead in a car in a bushfire region, though police say his death is not believed to be directly related to the fires.
While a major fire at Raveswood has been downgraded to “watch and act,” the Walwa fire near the NSW border remains a “confronting situation,” with warnings for residents to avoid driving into fire paths. Officials expect more fires to ignite on Saturday due to lightning strikes.
The bushfire emergency is unfolding as much of Australia endures extreme heat. New South Wales is bracing for temperatures as high as 43°C, with extreme heatwave warnings in place across large parts of the state and eight total fire bans declared. Premier Chris Minns urged people to “use common sense,” warning the heat would place severe strain on the health system. Between January 7 and 8, 33 people presented with heat-related illnesses, eight of whom were admitted to hospital.
At the same time, North Queensland faces the opposite threat. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is forecast to bring up to 250mm of rain in 24 hours, damaging winds and possible flash flooding between Cairns and Airlie Beach. The Bureau of Meteorology says the system has a 60 per cent chance of strengthening into a category 1 cyclone on Saturday evening before weakening again on Sunday.
With fire, heat and flood threats unfolding simultaneously, authorities across Australia are urging communities to remain alert, follow warnings closely and prioritise safety in what is shaping up to be one of the most challenging weather periods of the season.
