Bushfires
Beaufort back in the line of fire amid Victoria’s catastrophic conditions
The Wimmera region’s fire danger rating has been upgraded from extreme to catastrophic, as Melbourne’s temperature is forecast to soar close to 40 degrees on Wednesday.
- by Alex Crowe
Latest
Firefighters prepare defences as catastrophic fire danger declared for Wednesday
Victorians are bracing for the worst fire conditions in four years after at least six houses and about 20,000 hectares were burnt over the past five days.
- by Lachlan Abbott and Madeleine Heffernan
Western half of Victoria on alert from looming fire danger
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes says temperatures over 40 degrees and windy conditions forecast for Wednesday may combine to cause extreme fire danger for anything west of the Hume.
- by Ashleigh McMillan and Annika Smethurst
Updated
Ballarat
Fire-ravaged towns warned to brace for ‘worst fire day’ in four years
Forecast extreme heat, high winds and dry lightning mean Wednesday will be “a very dangerous and difficult day across Victoria”, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
- by Ashleigh McMillan
Victoria fires as it happened: Property, livestock lost as winds push bushfire north toward Elmhurst
Fire crews fought the out of control blaze near Beaufort in western Victoria overnight into Friday morning as hundreds of people were evacuated out of harm’s way.
- by Alex Crowe and Lachlan Abbott
Up to 10 homes feared destroyed in Beaufort blaze, more towns under threat
More than 1000 firefighters have been battling the 14,000-hectare blaze and authorities are now warning of searing heat and strong winds returning next week.
- by Rachael Dexter and Benjamin Preiss
Into the fire zone – and after the smoke clears
When disaster strikes, The Age has a crucial role to play both during and after the crisis.
- by Patrick Elligett
‘It was like a tornado’: Courage, cries and community spirit in the face of a firestorm
As crews worked at breakneck speed to protect properties and build containment lines most residents could only sit and wait for news on if their homes survived.
- by Bianca Hall
Tony Wright’s Column
Regional Australia
When the storms come, pull your hat low and set your horse free
No storm suggested doom for these two. They were preppers, but they were optimists, too.
- by Tony Wright
Exclusive
Extreme weather
Northern beaches, Byron Bay to bear the brunt of worsening disasters
The NSW Reconstruction Authority has warned that the damages bill for natural disasters will hit $9.1 billion annually if action is not taken.
- by Laura Chung
Firefighters battle Beaufort blaze into the night as towns evacuated
Emergency services have warned a wind change means those in the Pyrenees Ranges need to remain vigilant into the night as bushfire burns near Beaufort.
- by Benjamin Preiss, Rachael Dexter, Lachlan Abbott and Broede Carmody