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29-01-2026
MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY: Firefighters in the Australian state of Victoria are battling at least six major fires as a record-breaking heatwave hits the country’s south-east.
Two fires are currently burning at “emergency level” according to local broadcaster ABC News. Several communities have been issued emergency warnings to either evacuate, watch and wait, or shelter in place.
Fire officials warn that the situation is changing rapidly and have asked locals to stay up to date with the latest warnings.
The Bureau of Meteorology says that parts of the state have seen all-time temperature highs with one area hitting a high of 48.9C. Melbourne has recorded a temperature of 41C.
Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, had told reporters that the state’s heat conditions were making conditions “incredibly difficult” for firefighters.
Two fires in Camperdown and Otways are burning at emergency level. A new fire in the Larralea area is also causing “significant concern”.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Hefferman told ABC Radio that there was a danger that the Otways fire could produce ember showers “which can create more fires in front of the main fire”.
It is unclear what damage has been caused by the fires, but Australia’s Deputy Incident Controller Alistair Drayton, said he had “anecdotal evidence” that some homes had been lost.
He also praised the “spectacular” work done by firefighters so far.
Apart from Victoria, where there is a total fire ban, South Australia has also been placed under alert for “extreme” fire risk.
Meanwhile, health officials have warned that the prolonged heat carries significant health risks.
The elderly, children and people with underlying health conditions are most at risk, Victoria Chief Health Officer Caroline McElnay told reporters.
“It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke.”
The heatwave gripping south-east Australia reached day four on Tuesday and is now unprecedented in many regions.
Temperatures during the past two days have climbed as much as 20 degrees Celsius above average and on Tuesday included the hottest maximum ever officially recorded in Victoria, and highs above 49C in New South Wales and South Australia.
And while a cool change is now working its way east along the southern coastline, for many inland areas the hottest weather is still ahead with highs near 50C again likely in western NSW, south-west Queensland and inland SA during the coming days. Dozens of records fall in three states;
The absolute hottest region on Tuesday stretched from north-west NSW to the Mallee, Murraylands and Riverland where most towns hit a range from 47 to 50C, including:
Renmark 49.6C, hottest day on record and equal fourth highest SA maximum on record.
Fowlers Gap 49.1C, hottest day on record and equal third highest maximum ever recorded in NSW.
Walpeup 48.9C, hottest day on record and new Victorian record.
Hopetoun 48.9C, hottest day on record and new Victorian record.
Mildura 48.6C, hottest day on record.
Loxton 48.2C, hottest day on record.
Broken Hill 47.8C, hottest day on record. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
