Australia Bushfire Damage January 2026: One Dead and 300 Buildings Destroyed

A deadly wall of fire is tearing through south-east Australia, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. So far, one person has died and at least 300 homes and buildings have been reduced to ash. According to Reuters, the blazes have scorched an area nearly twice the size of Greater London.

Australia Bushfire Damage January 2026: State of Emergency Declared

As of January 11, 2026, the state of Victoria has declared a state of emergency. More than 70 aircraft and thousands of firefighters are battling 30 active fires. Authorities fear that the bone-dry conditions and erratic winds could keep the fires burning for weeks. Residents in over a dozen communities have been told it's time to leave immediately.

A Grim Echo of the Black Summer

The devastation is being compared to the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfire season. Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, warned that the state isn't through the worst of this by a long way. In the town of Harcourt, even those on the front lines haven't been spared; firefighter Tyrone Rice lost his own home while out battling the flames, describing the loss as "a kick in the guts."