Australian firefighters warn of high-risk bushfire season

Situation eases but threat remains

Weather conditions have improved since extreme heat and strong winds — with temperatures exceeding 40°C — fuelled dozens of fires across Victoria, which declared a state of disaster on Saturday.

However, authorities confirmed that 12 major fires are still burning across the state.

Officials caution against complacency

Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan warned that another “heating event” is expected towards the end of January, though its severity remains uncertain. “We are early in the high-risk weather season,” Heffernan said.

“There’s been a lot of fire in the landscape, and significant work will continue to contain these blazes.”

He added that while communities focus on recovery, attention must also remain on the fires still to come.

Growing damage and human toll

Authorities reported that more than 350 structures, including at least 65 homes, have already been lost, with the number expected to increase as assessments continue.

Police confirmed that one person died in a fire near Longwood, about two hours north of Melbourne.

Fire conditions still unstable

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said conditions had become more favourable for firefighting efforts but warned the danger is far from over. “Even light winds are still causing fires to shift,” he said.

Climate change intensifying fire seasons

Last week’s combination of extreme heat and dry winds created some of the most dangerous conditions since the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020, which destroyed millions of hectares and thousands of homes.

Researchers note that Australia’s climate has warmed by an average of 1.51°C since 1910, contributing to increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events across the country.