Australia Faces Catastrophic Fire Risk Amid Severe Heatwave

Fri Jan 09 2026 09:21:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

With soaring temperatures and catastrophic fire warnings in place, parts of Australia brace for potential disasters as a significant heatwave affects much of the country.

Australia is experiencing a severe heatwave with catastrophic fire conditions declared across most states. Meteorologists warn of conditions reminiscent of the devastating Black Summer bushfires. Firefighters are currently battling multiple blazes, and residents are urged to prepare and adhere to safety protocols during this critical period.

Parts of Australia will face catastrophic fire conditions on Friday, when heatwaves are expected to hit most of the country.

Severe to extreme heatwaves have been declared in every state and territory in Australia, except for Queensland, with high temperatures forecast for days.

The state of Victoria has declared a total fire ban for Friday, as the fire danger rating will be set at catastrophic - the highest level. Some 450 schools and childcare centres will be closed.

One meteorologist noted that the combination of heatwaves and an elevated fire danger could create the most significant conditions since the Black Summer bushfires.

On Thursday, firefighters battled several blazes in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), with numerous planes deployed to combat a large fire near Wodonga.

Melbourne recorded its hottest day in six years on Wednesday with a high of 40.9C (105.6F), while coastal towns in Western Australia reached 49C.

In NSW, heatwave conditions are peaking on Saturday with Sydney hitting 42C and parts of South Australia and Western Australia soaring over 40C. Meteorologists warned that Friday would be the peak of the current heat burst.

Furthermore, winds are expected to worsen in Victoria, contributing to the fire risk alongside possible dry thunderstorms.

Authorities have emphasized that a catastrophic fire danger means potential blazes could be unpredictable and uncontrollable, urging the community to prepare their bushfire survival plans.

The current situation reflects some of the most severe heat and fire conditions Australia has faced since 2019-2020, when the Black Summer fires devastated large regions.