12 Jan 2026

Australia declares State of Disaster as large forest fires rage in record heat wave

Australia is facing one of its most severe fire emergencies in years as a record-breaking heat wave fuels dozens of fast-moving bushfires across Victoria and New South Wales. Authorities have declared a state of disaster, with temperatures soaring past 46°C and winds creating conditions described as “undefendable”.

According to Phys.org, State Premier Jacinta Allan declared the State of Disaster on Saturday January 10th after bushfires had destroyed several buildings and several belts of forests.

Already on Thursday last week, before the State of Disaster was declared, ManilaTimes.net said firefighters had "warned millions of Australians of 'catastrophic' bushfire dangers as they battled multiple blazes stoked by a heat wave blanketing the country".

Among the most destructive bushfires burned through almost 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres) near Longwood, which is a region surrounded by native forests.

According to a January 12 post on Wikipedia, as of January 11, 2026, at least five people have died in the current Australian bushfire crisis - although some sources says as many as 5 people have died.

The first confirmed fatality occurred near Longwood, Victoria, where human remains were found close to a burned vehicle. Additional deaths have since been reported across affected regions.

The crisis began in early January 2026, when an extreme heat wave settled over southeastern Australia, triggering what meteorologists called the most dangerous bushfire weather since the “Black Summer” fires of 2019–2020.

According to The New York Times, more than 130 structures have already been destroyed, and over 740,000 acres have burned.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch warned residents: “If you don’t leave now, it could result in your life being lost”. Acting Premier Ben Carroll echoed the urgency, urging people to prepare evacuation plans and describing the fire zones as “scary environments that no one should have to go through”.

As Tropical Cyclone Koji approaches the northeast coast, authorities warn that the combination of fire and storm could further complicate emergency response efforts.