As it happened: People flee Longwood, Thologolong fires expected to grow significantly on Friday’s catastrophic fire danger day, Hume Freeway remains closed

With that line, the CFA’s Greg Murphy - deputy incident controller at the enormous, emergency-level Longwood fire - laid out the brutal reality facing Victoria on Friday.

Murphy, the deputy incident controller for the Longwood fire, addressed a crowd of locals and evacuees in Seymour this evening, ahead of the catastrophic fire danger forecast.

Read more of our coverage here and here.

Here’s what else we learned tonight.

At Longwood, more than 400 firefighters are tackling a bushfire that has so far burnt through 27,000 hectares and prompted many ‘Leave Now’ emergency warnings from authorities.
This evening, deputy incident controller Greg Murphy addressed evacuees and townsfolk in Seymour. He said the blaze wasn’t under control, and with tomorrow’s catastrophic fire conditions forecast for the area, they had “no chance” of changing that soon.
“Our job is to help people. Tomorrow, we might not be able to. That’s difficult to say, but it’s real.”
At least two homes have been lost in Longwood, we are chasing details from the State Control Centre.
The Hume Freeway remains closed.
Further north, emergency warnings remain in place for the fire in Mount Lawson State Park. That fire which started earlier this week has burned through 9000 hectares. People in towns including Cudgewa and Burrowye are being urged to leave immediately, while settlements as far south as Tallangatta and Mitta Mitta should stay informed.
Around 20 fires started this evening in East Gippsland - including Mallacoota - and the Alpine National Park, believed to be the result of dry lightning strikes.

Looking ahead to Friday:

There is a total fire ban for every part of Victoria, and the Wimmera, South West, Northern Country and North Central fire district areas are facing catastrophic fire danger. People are being urged to leave bushfire risk areas, because if a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
All national parks in Catastrophic Fire Danger areas will be closed to visitors on Friday - this includes the Grampians, Otways, parts of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers, and many attractions on the Great Ocean Road. This also means the Mountain To Surf race near Lorne will not go ahead.
V-Line has cancelled all train services on the nine train lines that run through the areas with catastrophic ratings. There will be no replacement bus services.
At least 450 schools and kindergartens providing holiday programs will also close as authorities pleaded for people to leave.
Dozens of firefighters from New South Wales will assist Victorian crews in battling blazes during Friday’s catastrophic conditions.

Thank you for reading our live blog of the heatwave and fires across Victoria. Our coverage has now concluded for today. We will resume rolling coverage of the extreme weather tomorrow morning.

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9.56pm on Jan 8, 2026

Premier’s late night message about Friday

By Alexander Darling

Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan just left this message on social media:

Tomorrow is shaping up to be the most dangerous fire day we have faced in many years.
For those of us who live in fire prone areas, my family included, fire is no longer a distant threat.
It is something we think about every summer. It’s something we prepare for, and plan our lives around.
And we hear warnings and messages so often that they can start to blur together. I do not want that to happen tonight.
So I want to say this bluntly. The conditions coming together right now are extremely serious. If the forecasts are right, tomorrow will be catastrophic.
There is a perfect storm building across our state. These fires can create their own weather. Lightning is starting new fires. Strong winds are pushing existing fires closer and closer to communities.
Today, emergency services met with the community in Seymour, Walwa and Bullioh. Their message was clear. By tomorrow, this fire will be too strong.
That means there will come a point when hoses will not help. When aircraft cannot fly. When help may not be able to reach you, no matter how brave or prepared you think you are.
Victoria is rugged country. When fire moves through it, it does so fast, hard, and without warning.
If you are in an at risk community tonight and you have been told to leave, please do it. Do not wait. Do not second guess it. Go somewhere safe.
And if you have family or friends who are planning to stay and defend, please talk to them. Urge them to think carefully. Courage does not stop a firestorm.
There are places ready for you. Places where you, your animals, and your livestock can be safe. Where there is a bed, a meal, and people looking out for you.
Hundreds of firefighters have already been out there this week in extremely tough conditions.
Tonight, they’ll still be out there, fighting fires and preparing for what tomorrow may bring.
We are deeply grateful for the work they are doing to protect lives and communities.
The last thing we want is those crews being put in more danger, or families left fearing the worst.
Today has already taken a heavy toll on communities across our state.
Please listen to the warnings. Please stay safe.

9.52pm on Jan 8, 2026

New fires in Mallacoota, Alpine National Park

By Alexander Darling

We’re about to wrap up this blog, but before we do, a few more updates from Forest Fire Management Victoria and Towong Shire Council:

Thologolong: An updated Emergency Warning is being issued for Berringama, Bungil, Burrowye, Cudgewa, Cudgewa North, Guys Forest, Koetong, Mount Alfred, Mount Alfred Gap, Pine Mountain, Shelley, Thologolong, Tintaldra, Beetoomba, Colac Colac, Koetong, Lucyvale, McNamara Crossing, Nariel Creek, Nariel Gap, Nariel Valley, Shelley, Staceys Bridge, Willow Crossing, Thowgla Valley and Walwa.

Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.

Relief centres are open at the Upper Murray Event Centre at the Corryong Football Oval, and Tallangatta Memorial Hall, Towong Street.

Impacts in your area: Road Closure - Local Traffic Only:

Murray Valley Highway between Granya Road and Annandale Road
Murray Valley Highway between Lucyvale Road and Cudgewa Valley Rd

Road Closure - Emergency Vehicles Only:

Murray Valley Highway between Annandale Road and Lucyvale Road.
Shelley Road.
Murray River Road between Granya Road and the Jingellic Road intersection.

Alpine National Park: Watch and Act for Abbeyard, Wonnangatta

There are three bushfires 5 kilometres north of Wonnangatta within Alpine National Park that are not yet under control.
Two are burning near Van Dammes Track, and one is burning near Selwyn Track.

The situation can change at any time. You must monitor conditions and be ready to act.

Mallacoota: There are bushfires at Mallacoota - Lake Barracoota and north of Genoa that are not yet under control.

While there is no current threat to you, extreme fire weather is expected tomorrow. You should stay informed and plan for what you will do if the situation changes.

9.20pm on Jan 8, 2026

The ambulance stations closed tomorrow

By Alexander Darling

Earlier today Ambulance Victoria confirmed tomorrow that some ambulance branches will be temporarily unstaffed on Friday.

Paramedics and first responders are being relocated from ambulance branches in these high-risk areas for their own safety from 7am.

AV has now released a list of the branches being relocated:

Alexandra
Ballan
Daylesford
Eildon
Euroa
Heathcote
Kinglake
Marysville
Rushworth
Stawell
Yea

The organisation says these crews will continue to respond to the community where it is safe to do so, and where those cases require an emergency response.

Meanwhile, volunteer branches are also not operating in these areas. This affects the towns of Balmoral, Blackwood (CERT), Halls Gap (ACO), Lavers Hill and Trentham (ACO).

Check here for more information as it comes to hand.

9.11pm on Jan 8, 2026

Longwood: Emergency Warning - Fire - Take Shelter Now

There is a bushfire at Longwood that is not yet under control.
The bushfire is travelling from Longwood in a easterly direction towards Merton.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.
It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now.

You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.

What you should do:

Move indoors:

Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from pure cotton or wool. Wear leather boots.
Bring your pets inside.
Close all exterior doors, windows and vents and turn off cooling systems.
You must take shelter before the fire arrives. The extreme heat is likely to kill 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:

Move away from the rooms that are on fire, closing doors behind you.
As soon as the bushfire has passed the house, or conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt. Staying inside a burning building will almost certainly end in death.
It may still be too hot to remain outside, so you will need to seek shelter in another structure or last resort option.

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 inground pool.
Try to protect yourself from the fire’s heat.

9.09pm on Jan 8, 2026

Local mayor puts his duties aside to protect his family

By Alexander Darling

I’ve just spoken to Scott Jeffery, who is normally mayor of Strathbogie Shire but is currently fully invested in his work as a CFA volunteer.

For the past two days, Jeffery has been working to protect his family’s property in Avenel, which is within the area that authorities say people should flee to avoid the Longwood fire.

He has delegated his role to deputy mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy while preoccupied with the firefight. “It’s hard to know which hat to wear,” he said.

“I’m heading out again tomorrow, just going to get some sleep now.”

“The fire has burned within 100 metres of my parents’ front door. I’ve got two brothers, my parents, partners and children here, so it’s 10 to 12 people.”

Jeffery said the fire had burned 20 per cent of his parents’ property and destroyed fences, but so far stock losses are low and no buildings have gone up.

Scenes from the Longwood fire.Jason South

“Volunteers are often working on their land or their neighbours’ land, constantly protecting assets or our lives.”

He said he worried what tomorrow would bring, but he had been buoyed by the way his fellow volunteers had shown up to fight the fire so far.

“It’s great to see the best in people coming out,” he said, adding there was a great need for more people to volunteer in small communities like Strathbogie.

8.26pm on Jan 8, 2026

‘I don’t mess around with fire’: Yea locals evacuate

By Cassandra Morgan and Alexander Darling

Jayson Balcombe knows how quickly fires can change for the worst.

A friend sustained burns to 60 per cent of her body in St Andrews, where the Black Saturday bushfires tore through the town in Victoria’s north-east in 2009.

Jayson Balcombe with partner Chell Stevenson, and children Xahlia, Tyler (centre) and Nixon Stevenson.

So when he and his family heard they were under threat in their home of Yea about lunchtime today, they were quick to escape to Lilydale, about 70 kilometres south of the town.

“Honestly, it’s not worth the risk after Ash Friday and Black Saturday.

We’ve seen how quickly things can change for the worst,” Balcombe, who owns local Yea business Motivated Maintenance, said.

“We’ve got kids, so just wanted to get them out. “I don’t mess around with fire.”

Balcombe is holed up with his partner and three children, aged 14, 10 and nine in a hotel in Lilydale tonight. Some of his mates also have local businesses in Yea, and were staying with other friends just outside the town, he said.

But he was willing to go even as far as Geelong if necessary to escape the blaze, currently at watch and act “prepare to leave” level.

He encouraged anyone who needed a way to get animals out of Yea to contact him via his business mobile.

“They’ve already blocked off the Hume [Freeway] between Seymour and Euroa,” he said. “I encourage everyone to leave.”

In nearby Alexandra, the local pub is accommodating people evacuated from Yarck - in the Longwood fire’s emergency area - with stuff weighing up how and when they can leave.

A staff member reported a steady stream of cars going through the town earlier on Thursday.

8.07pm on Jan 8, 2026

State of play this evening

By Alexander Darling

Thank you for sticking with us as we continue our coverage of the fires and heatwave across Victoria.

Here’s what we’ve learned since the afternoon:

At Longwood, more than 400 firefighters are tackling a bushfire that has so far burnt through 27,000 hectares and prompted many ‘Leave Now’ emergency warnings from authorities.
This evening, deputy incident controller Greg Murphy addressed evacuees and townsfolk in Seymour. He said the blaze wasn’t under control, and with tomorrow’s catastrophic fire conditions forecast for the area, they had “no chance” of changing that soon.

“Our job is to help people. Tomorrow, we might not be able to. That’s difficult to say, but it’s real.”
Several properties have been lost in Longwood, we are chasing details from the State Control Centre.
The Hume Freeway remains closed.
Further north, emergency warnings remain in place for the fire in Mount Lawson State Park. That fire which started earlier this week has burned through 9000 hectares. People in towns including Cudgewa and Burrowye are being urged to leave immediately, while settlements as far south as Tallangatta and Mitta Mitta should stay informed.
Lightning is also starting fires in East Gippsland, including in Orbost. Other fires have sprung up in Shepparton, and near Mallacoota, Mildura and Swan Hill, some of them now under control.

Looking ahead to Friday:

There is a total fire ban for every part of Victoria, and the Wimmera, South West, Northern Country and North Central fire district areas are facing catastrophic fire danger. People are being urged to leave bushfire risk areas, because if a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
All national parks in Catastrophic Fire Danger areas will be closed to visitors on Friday - this includes the Grampians, Otways, parts of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers, and many attractions on the Great Ocean Road. This also means the Mountain To Surf race near Lorne will not go ahead.
V-Line has cancelled all train services on nine train lines ahead of the catastrophic fire danger predicted for Friday. See more here.
Ambulance Victoria is urging some people to access alternative care services, as it plans to remove its paramedics from areas in high bushfire risk areas. See more here.
Dozens of firefighters from New South Wales will assist Victorian crews in battling blazes during Friday’s catastrophic conditions.

7.51pm on Jan 8, 2026

Fresh emergency warnings issued for Longwood fire

By Alexander Darling

An emergency warning is being issued for Avenel, Dropmore, Highlands, Ruffy, Tarcombe, Upton Hill.

There is a bushfire at Longwood that is not yet under control.
The bushfire is currently travelling in a south-easterly direction, but conditions are changeable.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.
It is too late to leave the area safely so you must take shelter now.
This Emergency Warning replaces the Emergency Warning issued at 4:47pm.

You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.

It is too late to leave.

A relief centre is open at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre, Pollard Street Seymour.

Emergency Warning - Bushfire - Leave Immediately

This Emergency Warning is being issued for Avenel, Creightons Creek, Euroa, Locksley, Longwood, Longwood East, Old Longwood, Ruffy, Tarcombe, Upton Hill.

There is a bushfire at Longwood that is not yet under control.
The bushfire is travelling from Longwood in an easterly direction towards Crieghtons Creek.
This Emergency Warning replaces the Emergency Warning issued at 3.25pm.

Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.

Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.

The Hume Freeway is currently closed between Violet Town and Avenel. Avenel-Longwood Road and Clarkes Road are open.

7.36pm on Jan 8, 2026