Melbourne Fires: Worst Bushfire Crisis Since the 2019-20 Black Summer

January 24, 2026

Melbourne Fires: Worst Bushfire Crisis Since the 2019-20 Black Summer

🇦🇺 Australia Search Volume: 100,000+ searches

In January 2026, Victoria faced its most severe bushfire crisis since the devastating 2019-2020 Black Summer fires, driving "fires melbourne" to become one of the most searched terms across Australia.

What Happened?

Large-scale bushfires that began on January 7 have ravaged Victoria. On January 10, Premier Jacinta Allan declared a State of Disaster across 18 local government areas.

Major Fire Locations

The key bushfire areas affecting Melbourne include:

1. Longwood Fire

Location: Approximately 150km northeast of Melbourne
The most severely impacted area
Affected nearby towns: Creightons Creek, Strathbogie, Merton, Yarck, Molesworth, Alexandra

2. Mount Lawson Fire

Location: Northeast Victoria, near the NSW border along the Murray River
Approximately 420km from Melbourne, near Walwa
Originated in Mount Lawson National Park

3. Otways Region Fires

Location: Southwest Victoria, approximately 150-200km southwest of Melbourne
Major fire sites:
- Carlisle River: Approximately 3,300 hectares burned, still uncontrolled
- Kennedys Creek: Approximately 3,400 hectares burned, at least 1 home lost
- Cape Otway: Near the Great Ocean Road
Affected areas: Irrewillipe, Tomahawk Creek, Barongarook, Gellibrand, Forrest
Significance: Described as "the largest fire in the Otways since Ash Wednesday 1983"
Great Ocean Road partially closed

4. Other Active Fires

Ravenswood South - Near Harcourt, approximately 50 homes destroyed
Grass Flat - Near Natimuk
Streatham - Near Skipton, approximately 5 structures lost, 18,500 hectares burned
Dargo - Gippsland region

Scale of Devastation

The damage assessment is shocking:

Area Burned: Over 400,000 hectares (more than 5 times the size of Singapore)
Structures Destroyed: More than 700 buildings lost
Livestock: Approximately 20,000 animals killed
Active Fires: More than 30 bushfires still burning
Insurance Claims: Over 1,400 claims filed, with 30% being total loss claims

Why Is This So Severe?

This bushfire crisis is particularly severe due to multiple converging factors:

Extreme Heatwave

Starting January 7, southeastern Australia experienced its worst heatwave since 2019-20. Temperatures soared to 46°C (115°F) in some areas, with Melbourne recording its hottest day since January 2020.

Catastrophic Fire Danger

On Friday, January 9, multiple areas across Victoria were upgraded to "Catastrophic" fire danger. Authorities warned that any fires starting that day would be "undefendable."

Smoke and Air Quality in Melbourne

Premier Jacinta Allan stated that "bushfire smoke is affecting air quality across many parts of Victoria, including metropolitan Melbourne."

Melbourne is being impacted by smoke from multiple directions simultaneously:

Northeast Longwood fires: Located approximately 1.5-2 hours drive from Melbourne, smoke is carried directly into the city depending on wind direction
Southwest Otways fires: Smoke from the Carlisle River and Kennedys Creek fires travels to Melbourne on southwesterly winds
Western region fires: Smoke from Ravenswood South, Streatham and other fires also contributes

As a result, residents have experienced respiratory problems due to smoke, and air quality has significantly deteriorated. Authorities are advising people to stay indoors, close windows, and limit outdoor activities.

Why Are People Searching?

Australians are intensively searching for "fires melbourne", "melbourne fire", and "smoke melbourne" for several reasons:

Real-time Safety Information: To check fire conditions and evacuation orders in their areas
Air Quality Monitoring: To track smoke levels and Air Quality Index (AQI) in Melbourne and surrounding areas
Transport Information: V/Line train and bus services have been suspended in high-risk fire areas, requiring alternative transport information
Ways to Help: To find ways to support affected communities and businesses

Government Response and Support

The Victorian and Australian federal governments are providing:

Emergency relief payments: $680 per adult, $340 per child
One-time payment of up to $2,380 per family
Up to $52,250 in temporary accommodation support for uninsured families
Grants, low-interest loans and counseling for farmers and primary producers
Emergency recovery hotline: 1800 560 760

Outlook

Authorities expect it will take weeks to fully contain these fires. Premier Jacinta Allan warned that "we are not out of the worst yet" and that "fires will continue across the state for some time."

Experts point out that extreme temperatures, strong winds, and dry fuel combined due to climate change are creating dangerous fire conditions. This demonstrates the ongoing climate risks Australia faces.

TrendNow | Data-Driven Insights on Global Trends