State of Disaster declared for the first time since 2020 as bushfires destroy over 130 structures in Victoria, Australia
A fast-moving bushfire crisis has prompted the Victorian Government to declare a State of Disaster for the first time since 2020, on January 10, 2026, with over 300 000 ha (741 000 acres) being scorched across the state under extreme heat and high winds. At least 130 structures have been destroyed, and thousands remain under evacuation orders, with conditions forecast to remain dangerous in the coming days.
Wildfires in Victoria on January 10, 2026. Credit: NSW RFS
The Government of Victoria declared a State of Disaster on January 10, allowing authorities to enforce mandatory evacuations and allocate emergency resources as dozens of large bushfires continue to burn across the state.
“This declaration is in effect now and remains in force until 23:59 on February 8, 2026, unless revoked earlier,” said the Government of Victoria.
The fires have burned more than 300 000 ha (741 000 acres) of forest and farmland since early January. Premier Jacinta Allan said the declaration was necessary to protect lives and coordinate state-level response amid rapidly changing fire conditions.
At least 130 structures, including homes, farm buildings, were destroyed. The most affected areas include Longwood, Ruffy, Carlisle River, and parts of the Great Otway Ranges.
The current outbreak follows weeks of prolonged drought and persistent heat that have left large parts of Victoria extremely dry, creating critical fire weather.
The current wildfire event is the worst since the 2019–2020 Black Summer season fires in terms of area burned within a single week.
The declaration of a State of Disaster gives emergency authorities expanded powers under Victorian law, allowing road closures, forced evacuations, and prioritization of essential infrastructure protection. The last declaration occurred during the 2020 East Gippsland bushfires.
One man in his 60s was found dead near a fire-affected area, though his death was not directly linked to the bushfires. Three people were reported missing from the Longwood region and have been located safe. No other fatalities have been confirmed as of January 10.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been deployed to assist with logistics, aerial water-bombing, and road clearance operations. Relief centres have been established in Euroa, Colac, and Bairnsdale, while tens of thousands of homes remain without power. A total fire ban is in effect across the entire state.
Meteorologically, the heat and fire weather are linked to a hot, dry continental air mass and a persistent ridge of high pressure over central Australia. While La Niña-like conditions persist in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean Dipole has returned to neutral, these large-scale patterns do not preclude severe regional heat events. The current setup has produced several days of extreme temperatures and low humidity over the southeast.
Inland regions of Victoria recorded temperatures of over 40°C (104°F) between January 9 and 10, with relative humidity dropping below 15%, and sustained winds of 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph).
About 67 fires were active across Victoria on Saturday, January 9, with 10 of them uncontrolled. In New South Wales, around 46 bush and grass fires were burning, with several Watch and Act alerts in place and total fire bans declared in multiple districts.
Further north, Queensland authorities are monitoring a tropical low forecast to intensify into a category 2 cyclone near the coast, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the state.
Nothing is more awe-inspiring than seeing our firefighting aircraft in action during these terrible fires.
— PoliticalPilot (@PilotPoli) January 10, 2026
Seen here, Birdog 100 leads Bomber 138 (both on loan from @NSWRFS) on a retardant drop over the Walwa fire in Victoria's NE. #vicfires #vicweather #Bushfires pic.twitter.com/4VlNoyGf5l
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued catastrophic and extreme fire danger ratings for large parts of the state and warns that several fires are likely to continue burning for days, possibly weeks.
BOM’s fire-weather outlook shows very hot, dry, and windy conditions will persisting through January 11–13, maintaining extreme fire behavior across northern and eastern Victoria.
Meanwhile, a southerly change may bring temporary cooling to coastal regions, although it won’t reduce the fire danger due to ongoing dryness and volatile fuel loads. Wind change events may further complicate firefighting operations, as shifts in direction can intensify existing fire fronts.
Authorities urge residents in affected and adjacent districts to remain alert to emergency warnings, comply with evacuation directives, and monitor official EMV and CFA channels for updates.
References:
1 State of Disaster – Government of Victoria – January 10, 2026
2 Heatwave live updates: Bushfire disaster in Vic; threat rises in NSW; cyclone forms in Qld – ABC – January 10, 2026
3 Victoria bushfires: State of disaster declared, several blazes still burning out-of-control – SBS News – January 10, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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