7:05pm: EMERGENCY WARNING issued for Kariah, Larralea, Leslie Manor and Taaraak.
A grassfire at Camperdown-Lismore Road, Larralea, is not yet under control.
The grassfire is travelling from Ettrick Estate Road in a north-easterly direction towards Foxhow Road.
If you have not already left, the time to safely evacuate has now passed. Take shelter indoors immediately. It is now too dangerous to leave.
You are in danger. Act now to protect yourself.
It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
Do not get in the car and drive. It is now safer to stay where you are.
Previously published warnings remain in place.
4:45pm: CFA Hastings is attending a male using an industrial grinder on Victoria Street, Hastings.
No new emergency warnings have been issued. Those currently in place remain current.
4pm: Power outage in Melton, Werribee and surrounds, with an estimated 3,757 in the area now without mains electricity. Due to fires, safety and the statewide heatwave, it may take many hours, possibly longer, before power is restored.
3:30pm: The Emergency Management Commissioner says six major fires are still burning across Victoria.
“Three of those fires are not yet under control,” Tim Wiebusch says.
“That includes the Dargo/Wonnangatta fire, the Walwa/Mt Lawson fire and obviously the Otways fire.
“There are now two Emergency Warnings and 13 Watch and Act warnings that are current for those fires.”
The Emergency Warnings relate to an extended evacuation zone for the Otways fire, and a new grassfire north-east of Camperdown.
(Jesse Thompson for ABC News reported).
3:10pm: EMERGENCY WARNING. A grassfire at Camperdown-Lismore Road is not yet under control. It’s now too late to leave.
The grassfire is travelling from Ettrick Estate Road in a south-easterly direction towards Foxhow Road.
If you have not already left, the time to safely evacuate has now passed. Take shelter indoors immediately. It is now too dangerous to leave.
You are in danger; act now to protect yourself. It is too late to leave. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
Do not get in the car and drive. It is safer to stay where you are.
Quickly move indoors:
- Bring your pets indoors.
- Close all exterior doors, windows and vents.
- Turn off cooling systems.
- You must take shelter before the fire arrives. The extreme heat is likely to harm you well before the flames reach you.
- Shelter in a room that has two exits, such as a door or window, including one directly to the outside. It is important to be able to see outside so you know what is happening with the fire.
- If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.
If you cannot get indoors, last resort options include:
- Shelter in the middle of a large open area like a ploughed paddock, football oval or sporting reserve.
- Get into a large body of water like a dam, lake, river, the ocean or in-ground pool.
- Try to protect yourself from the fire’s heat.
In the car:
- If you are travelling, do not enter the warning area. Make a U-turn and travel to safety.
- If you are currently driving, slow down and turn on your headlights; smoke will make it difficult to see.
If caught in fire:
- Park behind a solid structure to block the fire’s heat or pull over to cleared area.
- Try to position the car towards the approaching fire.
- Turn on your hazard lights and headlights.
- Close all windows.
- Turn off the air-conditioning and shut all the air vents.
- Turn your car engine off.
- Get down as low as possible below window level and cover up with a woollen blanket.
- Grassfires can generate extreme heat. Heat will kill you before the flames reach you.
3pm: Panton Hill Tanker has been requested to step up to Kalkallo CFA, and Eltham Tanker 1 has been requested to move up to Craigeburn CFA station.
Current warnings remain in place.
2:45pm: No new warnings have been issued. Current warnings remain in place.
A cool change has just passed east of Portland that could change the direction of current fires. The change is not expected to impact Melbourne until approximately 9pm.
A TOTAL FIRE BAN has been declared for the Wimmera and North East districts tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
2:20pm: Grass and scrub fire spreading rapidly located on Switzerland Road, Ghin Ghin.
2pm: The Officer CFA Brigade are attending to a person(s) using an angle grinder at the corner of Gumleaf Drive and Station Street, Officer.
A grass and scrub fire has been reported at the corner of Katamatite-Shepparton Road and Youanmite Road, Invergordon.
Fire Rescue Victoria attended a grass fire out the front of the Northcote Library, which FRV reported as “likely started by a cigarette butt.” (via FRV Radio).
There is no change to other warnings at present.
1.35pm: The Carlisle River fire has just broken containment lines, a CFA Deputy Officer told Bridget Duclos on ABC Radio Melbourne (3LO) and ABC Radio Victoria.
The CFA is also concerned about possible lightning strikes and the rapid change of the fire front if a “southerly buster” arrives later this evening, which is not expected before 5pm.
1:25pm: CFA Seymour ICC reports of a grass and scrub fire at the corner of Longwood-Ruffy Road and Red Gate Lane, Ruffy.
Previously published warnings remain in place and have not changed since publication.
1pm: All previously published warnings remain in place and have not changed since publication.
It’s currently 39.6°C in Reservoir, 38°C in the city, 38.3°C in Sunbury, 36.1°C in Whittlesea, 35°C at Heathcote Junction, 33.9°C in Kyneton, 35°C in Lancefield, 35.6°C at Longwarry, 39.4°C at Albury and 45.6°C at Red Cliffs.
12:30pm: CFA Echuca reports that a grass and scrub fire is spreading rapidly on Lady Augusta Rd, Echuca.
The EMERGENCY WARNING TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY for Barongarook West, Barwon Downs, Forrest, Gerangamete, Murroon, Yaugher, Yeodene, Barramunga, Barwon Downs, Mount Sabine, Olangolah East, Tanybryn, Upper Gellibrand, Aire Valley, Beech Forest, Carlisle River, Chapple Vale, Charleys Creek, Crowes, Dinmont, Ferguson, Gellibrand, Glenaire, Johanna, Kawarren, Kincaid, Lavers Hill, Pile Siding, Simpson, Weeaproinah and Wyelangta remains in place.
11:25am: An EMERGENCY WARNING TO EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY has just been issued for Barongarook, Gellibrand, Kawarren and Lovat. The warning covers the area closest to the fire in the map below.
Stay cool by wearing light, loose clothing, drinking plenty of water and closing windows and blinds early to limit heat entering your home. For more info and resources: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/extreme-heat.
Make sure you know your local risk and what to do if a fire starts. To check your Fire Danger Rating for today: https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fdr.
For information and warnings, visit the VicEmergency website at http://emergency.vic.gov.au, download the VicEmergency app or call the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226.
Listen to your local emergency broadcaster and never rely on one source of information.
10:30am: Powercor has advised customers that if a power outage causes damage to power infrastructure, customers may be left without power for anything from a few hours to several weeks.
Those who do not have backup power systems or an ‘off-grid’ system are advised that if the power goes out, they’ll lose air conditioning, causing their home to rapidly heat and to avoid opening and closing fridges and freezers as much as possible.
It is advised that you fill your bathtub and sinks with cold water and have towels on hand to keep cool.
It is also suggested to have ice on hand, either ice from your own fridge or a’bag of ice’ from a service station or bottleshop.
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio says she’s confident there won’t be widespread blackouts today due to demands placed on the electricity network.
“The Australian Energy Market Operator advises us that Victoria has more than sufficient reserves in place to meet the demand on our electricity supply today,” she said.
“Of course, we know that we have significant fires in the landscape and we know that sometimes fires can have an impact on the electrical hardware, the actual infrastructure.”
7:30am: Racing Victoria has suspended and rescheduled today’s harness, thoroughbred and greyhound racing, a spokesperson for Racing Victoria said.
7am: Authorities have urged people to avoid travelling on the Great Ocean Road and advised the public that the road may be closed “at a moment’s notice.”
6:30am: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Heatwave Warning. with maximum temperatures to break records with the hottest day since February 7, 2009 predicted for most of Victoria.
6am: Today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026 has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban for the entire state by the Country Fire Authority.
“Now is the time to have your bushfire plan ready, talk with your family about what you’ll do if a fire starts, and be prepared to act early.
“We’re urging everyone to restrict any unnecessary travel tomorrow. Farming activity should also be paused,” CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said.
