Victorian bushfire update from the ABC:
"Watch and Act warnings have been raised around two bushfires currently burning out-of-control in Victoria.
"Communities to the east of the fire burning in Longwood have been urged to leave, as the bushfire moves in an easterly direction towards Strathbogie State Forest and Bonnie Doon.
"This includes the following communities:
"Ancona, Barjarg, Boho South, Bonnie Doon, Creek Junction, Dry Creek, Euroa, Gobur, Gooram, Kanumbra, Kelvin View, Kithbrook, Lima East, Lima South, Maindample, Marraweeney, Merton, Sheans Creek, Strathbogie, Strathbogie North, Strathbogie South, Tallangallook, Too-rour and Woodfield.
"Residents near a bushfire burning west of Walwa are also being told to prepare to leave immediately.
"This includes residents in these communities:
"Biggara, Corryong, Cudgewa, Thowgla, Thowgla Upper, Thowgla Valley, Towong and Towong Upper."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-08/fire-weather-heatwave-live-blog-victoria-sa-nsw/106208762
#bushfires #bushfire #Victoria #Vic #Australia
The ABC reporting houses have been lost in towns near Seymour as a result of the Victorian bushfires.
Separately, The Guardian reports the Hume Freeway is closed, and country train services are cancelled in Northwest Victoria. (V/Line explicitly mentioned, XPT presumably cancelled too.)
"The ABC has been told a residential property in Ruffy, west of Seymour and within the large Longwood fire, has been destroyed by fire.
"Homeowner Rebekah says her property on Nolans Road, the main road in the small township, has burnt down.
"She says she evacuated with her family last night, but close relatives who live nearby told her the house had burned down.
"It's a really huge area that's been impacted," she says.
"Ruffy is a really picturesque spot [and] it's wild it's gone."
"Ruffy is located in the Strathbogie Ranges and has a population of about 164 according to the 2021 census.
"There are reports of other property losses but State Agency Commander David Nugent says he's not in a position to confirm any.
"When I look at the movement of the fires without knowing the detail, and I'm not in a position to tell you exactly what's happened on the ground there … but the details we can see here is the fire has moved in that area through that Ruffy community," he says."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-08/fire-weather-heatwave-live-blog-victoria-sa-nsw/106208762
"On Friday, a total fire ban will be in place across the entire state of Victoria, most of South Australia and four NSW districts (eastern and southern Riverina, Monaro Alpine and Southern Slopes). The Tasmania Fire Service declared a total fire ban for the state’s south and the Furneaux Islands from Saturday.
"The Hume Freeway was closed in both directions on Thursday between Seymour and Violet Town, a stretch of about 74km.
"Regional V/line train and bus services will be cancelled in fire districts facing catastrophic danger on Friday. Freight services through those areas will also be suspended.
"Public lands and parks across the state were closed.
"The potential for thunderstorms and dry lightning across much of Victoria and southern NSW was adding to concerns. Storms could bring large hail to the north-eastern ranges of Victoria, Scully said.
...
"Australia experienced its fourth-warmest year on record in 2025, with average temperatures up 1.23C nationally, according to BoM.
"The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/08/australia-heatwave-bushfires-victoria-catostrophic-conditions
#auspol #vicpol #bushfire #bushfires