Firefighters told people to flee an out-of-control bushfire in southeast Australia on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) as a heatwave baked much of the country.
Temperatures hit a record high in the eastern State of Victoria, preliminary data showed.
"Conditions are heating up across the State, and we're seeing those 40 degree temperatures roll in," said Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan.
Australia declares state of disaster as bushfires rage
"Firefighters on the ground will now start to really notice how hot it is getting, and they'll really start to notice the picking up of the winds," he told public broadcaster ABC.
