Sydney, Jan 9: An intense heatwave pushed temperatures beyond 40 degrees Celsius across parts of southeast Australia on Friday, triggering one of the most severe bushfire emergencies the country has faced in recent years and forcing mass evacuation warnings in rural Victoria.
Fire authorities said around 30 bushfires were burning simultaneously across the state, with dry vegetation and powerful winds creating what officials described as “catastrophic” fire conditions. Gusts exceeding 100 kilometres per hour grounded firefighting aircraft, significantly limiting suppression efforts on the ground.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch issued a stark warning to residents in threatened areas, urging them to leave without delay. He said remaining behind could prove fatal as fire behaviour rapidly intensified.
One of the largest blazes near the town of Longwood, about 150 kilometres north of Melbourne, has already scorched roughly 28,000 hectares. Police confirmed that three people, including a child, were missing in one of the worst-hit fire zones, with search operations hampered by hazardous conditions.
Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan said the fire danger rating had reached the highest possible level, cautioning that further property losses were likely as the day progressed. “This is an extremely volatile situation,” he said.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan described the unfolding crisis as one of the most dangerous fire days the state has experienced in years. She urged communities to prioritise personal safety over property, warning that fires driven by extreme heat and wind cannot be fought by residents staying behind.
Fire officials reported erratic fire behaviour, including the formation of fire-generated thunderstorms caused by intense heat rising from the blazes. Lightning strikes and embers carried by strong winds accelerated the spread of flames across sparsely populated farming districts.
The fires have devastated rural livelihoods, destroying homes, livestock and agricultural infrastructure. Local fire captain George Noye said some families had lost everything, though authorities confirmed no deaths had been reported so far.
The crisis has revived memories of Australia’s 2019–20 “Black Summer” bushfires, which burned millions of hectares and destroyed thousands of homes nationwide. Climate researchers note that Australia has warmed by about 1.51 degrees Celsius since 1910, increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and bushfires.
Elsewhere, the heat has also taken a toll on wildlife, with conservation groups reporting the deaths of hundreds of baby bats in South Australia earlier this week.
Millions of people across Victoria and neighbouring New South Wales remain on high alert as authorities warn that dangerous conditions could persist in the days ahead.
