2 h. ago See how Victoria’s bushfires spread: a visual guide to the scale of devastation

Authorities and firefighters say the Victorian fires of January 2026 were unlike anything seen before in speed, scale and destruction. And they came much earlier than normalGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA new fight for Victorian farmers – saving livestock that survived devastating bushfiresVictoria has been battered by some of the most destructive bushfires in its history, with blazes tearing through 400,000 hectares across the state and claiming the life of a cattle farmer, Maxwell Hobson. Almost 900 buildings have been destroyed, including more than 250 homes, and more than 15,000 livestock have been killed, along with countless wildlife.Both authorities and firefighters on the ground have reported the fires were unlike anything seen before in their speed, scale and destruction. They also came much earlier than the traditional bushfire season, which typically peaks in February. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago ‘You can’t replace time’: Harcourt’s wine and beer producers mourn loss of industry’s heart in Victoria bushfires

The Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores stored priceless stock for local businesses – but it was also the focal point for friendships in ‘a passionate industry’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTrevor Peeler has spent 50 years of his life driving in and out of the gates of the Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores. He didn’t see the site burn to the ground on Friday night because he was blocks away protecting his house.Not that he could have done anything. The Cool Stores were directly in the path of the fire and turned into an inferno. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Human remains found as bushfires continue to ravage Australia

That fire, one of the largest burning on Sunday, has already destroyed properties, vineyards and agricultural land

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6 d. ago More than 100 buildings destroyed and 300,000 hectares burned as Victoria’s bushfires rage

Fires may continue for ‘weeks’, authorities warn, as three missing people found safeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 119 structures are believed to be lost in bushfires across Victoria and more than 300,000 hectares of bushland has been burned as the state continues to battle blazes that may rage for “weeks”.Emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, told the media on Saturday that about 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, which was believed to be a “conservative number”. The Bendigo railway line had also been damaged by fire and was closed. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago More than 100 buildings destroyed and 300,000ha of bushland burned as Victoria’s bushfires rage

Fires may continue for ‘weeks’, authorities warn, as three missing people found safeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 119 structures are believed to be lost in bushfires across Victoria and more than 300,000 hectares of bushland has been burned as the state continues to battle blazes that may rage for “weeks”.Emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, told the media on Saturday that around 50 homes had been lost in the Ravenswood and Harcout fire, which was believed to be a “conservative number”. The Bendigo railway line had also been damaged by fire and was closed. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Australia bushfires: Aerial footage shows charred landscape after ‘catastrophic’ fires

Aerial footage shows the extent of damage caused by “catastrophic” bushfires in Australia’s Victoria state, which has forced communities to evacuate and hundreds of schools to close.

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6 d. ago Australia bushfires latest: Three missing as ‘catastrophic’ fires cut power to 90,000 homes in 46C heat

Several properties have been destroyed, and police said a man, woman and child remain unaccounted for

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7 d. ago Australia bushfires latest: Three missing as ‘catastrophic’ wildfires hit Victoria town ‘like a bomb’

Several properties have been destroyed, and police said a man, woman and child remain unaccounted for

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7 d. ago ‘Toughest conditions imaginable’: Victorians urged to shelter inside from heatwave as tropical cyclone heads for Queensland

Heatwave warnings in place for nearly all states and territories as Sydney braces for 43C forecast on SaturdayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorians have been urged to stay inside as Melbourne’s mercury climbs towards 42C amid a heatwave engulfing much of Australia to descend on Sydney on Saturday.Anthony Albanese met officials in Canberra for a briefing on the extreme conditions and said these were “difficult times” for the country. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Australia heatwave: Residents told to ‘leave now’ as wildfire heads for town amid 45C heat

Victoria’s emergency management agency says homes could be at risk if the fire continues to advance

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