Australian bushfires raze homes, cut power to tens of thousands

Authorities warn of dangerous fire conditions across south-east Australia

The Longwood bushfire burns, in a location given as Longwood, Victoria, Australia, in this handout image released on January 7, 2026. Wandong Fire Brigade/Handout via REUTERS

Thousands of firefighters on Saturday toiled in Australia’s state of Victoria to gain the upper hand over bushfires that have razed homes, cut power to tens of thousands and burned vast swathes of bushland.

The blazes, most of which ignited midweek amid an intense heatwave in south-east Australia, have torn through more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of bushland, authorities said on Saturday morning, adding that 10 major fires were still burning across the state.

More than 130 structures, including homes, have been destroyed and around 38,000 residences and businesses were without power because of the fires, authorities said. They added that the blazes were the worst to hit the state since the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, which destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said thousands of firefighters were in the field working to contain the blazes.

“Where we can, fires will be brought under control,” Allan said at a televised media conference in the state capital, Melbourne.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation faced a day of “extreme and dangerous” fire weather, especially in Victoria, where much of the state has been declared a disaster zone.

“My thoughts are with Australians in these regional communities at this very difficult time,” Albanese said in televised remarks from Canberra.

One of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood, about 112 km (69.6 miles) north of Melbourne, has burned 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of bushland, destroying 30 structures, vineyards and agricultural land, authorities said.

Dozens of communities near the fires have been evacuated, and many of the state’s parks and campgrounds are closed.

A heatwave warning was in place on Saturday for large parts of Victoria, while fire weather warnings were active for neighbouring New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the nation’s weather forecaster said.