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Victoria: Australia firefighters battle 'emergency level' blazes
Six major wildfires fueled by record 48.9°C heat and wind gusts over 40 mph have forced evacuations and damaged homes, with firefighting efforts ongoing across Victoria.
- Country Fire Authority deputy chief officer Rohan Luke said firefighters in Victoria are battling at least six major wildfires, with two at emergency level in Camperdown and Otways.
- BoM data showed Victoria recorded a new all-time high of 48.9°C on January 27, 2026, as a stationary high-pressure ridge drove hot air southward, sustaining severe to extreme fire conditions.
- Authorities reported more than 1,000 properties were told to evacuate and about 140 people moved to relief centres at Colac showgrounds, while containment lines breached at 4:30pm with 40 tankers responding, the Country Fire Authority said.
- Barwon Water warned Tuesday that `We are unable to guarantee safety or supply of water in Gellibrand`, while more than 80,000 customers lost power and Caroline McElnay cautioned on heatstroke risks.
- Bureau of Meteorology predicts conditions will moderate on Wednesday, January 28, with Melbourne maximums near 23°C, but above-average temperatures and extreme fire danger will persist through April due to global warming.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Firefighters work to contain Victorian blazes as heatwave continues
Residents near a bushfire in southern Victoria face a nervous wait, while a heatwave that sent temperatures into the high 40s yesterday is set to impact parts of NSW and Queensland. Follow our live coverage.
·Australia
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Sydney Morning Herald+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Bushfire emergency continues in Victoria
The bushfire emergency continues today in Victoria, with temperatures in some parts to exceed 40 degrees.
·Sydney, Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
L 43%
C 57%
Factuality
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