Authorities in the Australian state of Victoria have declared a 'catastrophic' fire danger as uncontrolled bushfires rage, forcing communities to flee and prompting the closure of hundreds of schools. The dire situation, unfolding amid a severe summer heatwave with temperatures soaring past 40C (104F), echoes the devastating conditions of the 2019 Black Summer fires.
State of Emergency as Fires Rage
On Thursday, 8 January 2026, two major bushfires burned out of control near the towns of Longwood and Walwa. The Country Fire Authority has issued grave warnings, with Chief Officer Jason Heffernan stating that Friday presents a "very, very dire bushfire day" for Victoria. The fire danger rating has been set at 'catastrophic', the highest possible level, indicating that lives and homes are at significant risk.
The scale of the blazes is immense. The Longwood fire now covers more than 25,000 hectares (61,776 acres), while the Walwa fire spans approximately 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres). The Walwa fire has grown so large and intense that it has generated its own weather system, known as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud. This phenomenon can cause dangerous lightning strikes and unpredictable thunderstorm activity, further complicating firefighting efforts.
Widespread Disruption and Evacuations
The immediate impact on communities has been severe. Residents in dozens of towns surrounding the fire fronts have been ordered to evacuate their homes. In preparation for the catastrophic conditions forecast for Friday, the Victorian government has taken unprecedented steps:
- Approximately 450 schools across the state are closed.
- Many regional train services have been cancelled.
- A total fire ban has been imposed across the entire state.
Officials confirm that the fires have already destroyed at least two structures. With winds expected to strengthen and heat to intensify on Friday, the blazes are predicted to spread further. Total fire bans were also issued in several districts on Thursday as a precaution.
Heatwave Fuels Crisis, Echoes Black Summer
The bushfire emergency is being driven by an intense heatwave gripping southeastern Australia. Meteorologists have compared the current conditions to those of 2019, a period known as the Black Summer. During that season, bushfires destroyed vast areas of the country's southeast and directly caused 33 deaths.
The effects of the heatwave are also being felt across the Tasman Sea. In New Zealand, MetService has issued heat alerts for parts of the eastern coast and the north of the South Island, warning of record warm temperatures over the coming weekend as the weather system moves eastward.
Emergency services remain on high alert, urging residents in at-risk areas to heed evacuation orders and have their bushfire survival plans activated. The situation remains volatile, with authorities emphasising that the catastrophic rating signifies a threat to life that must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
