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Catastrophic fire risk declared in Victoria as heatwave grips Australia
Large parts of Australia face extreme fire danger on Friday, with authorities warning of conditions not seen since the devastating Black Summer bushfires. A total fire ban is in place across Victoria, where 450 schools and childcare centres will close.
Heatwave peaks across multiple states
Severe to extreme heatwave alerts cover every Australian state and territory except Queensland, with temperatures forecast to exceed 40°C (104°F) in many regions. Melbourne recorded its hottest day in six years on Wednesday at 40.9°C (105.6°F), while coastal towns in Western Australia reached 49°C (120.2°F).
New South Wales will see temperatures peak on Saturday, with Sydney expected to hit 42°C (107.6°F). South Australia and parts of Tasmania will also experience extreme heat in the coming days.
Firefighters battle blazes ahead of worst conditions
Fire crews in Victoria and New South Wales are already tackling multiple fires, including a large blaze near Wodonga that required water-bombing aircraft. Meteorologists warn that Friday's combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and dry lightning could create the most dangerous fire conditions since the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires, which killed dozens and destroyed thousands of hectares.
"This looks like the most significant event at a multi-day level for inland south-east Australia since 2019-2020," said Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Bureau of Meteorology
Emergency warnings issued
Victoria's catastrophic fire danger rating-the highest on Australia's four-tier scale-means fires could be "unpredictable and uncontrollable," authorities said. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch urged residents to leave high-risk areas immediately.
"Prepare now and enact your bushfire survival plan. If you are in an area of forecast catastrophic fire danger, leave early to an area with a lower fire risk," Wiebusch said.
Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner
What's next
Temperatures are expected to ease slightly after Saturday, but fire risks will remain elevated. Officials continue to monitor conditions, with further updates expected on Friday morning (local time).
