Submitted by daniel on Tue, 13/01/2026 - 11:38 Picture Image Description What is the name and location of the bushfire? As of January 13, 2026, multiple bushfires are burning across the state of Victoria, Australia. The most significant fires include the Longwood bushfire in central Victoria near Gobur, Euroa, and Yarck, the Shire of Towong bushfire and Walwa fire near the New South Wales border in Victoria’s north-east, and the Dargo fire in Gippsland (1). Additional active fires include the Ravenswood South bushfire near Harcourt, the Grass Flat fire near Natimuk, and the Carlisle River bushfire in the Otways region of south-west Victoria (2). These fires are impacting forested areas, agricultural land, and regional communities across multiple districts of the state (3). Which cities or areas are affected by the bushfire? Communities and locations affected include: Alexandra Beechworth Bendigo Bright Bungador Euroa Gobur Harcourt Horsham Mansfield Natimuk Ruffy Seymour Walwa Wangaratta Wodonga Yarck Yea What is the current containment status of the bushfire? As of January 13, 2026, containment levels vary across the active bushfires burning in Victoria. The Longwood bushfire in central Victoria remains active and uncontained, though it has been downgraded to a Watch and Act warning as crews continue to strengthen containment lines. Fires in the Otways region, including the Carlisle River bushfire, are still burning and remain uncontrolled, with firefighters focusing on slowing their spread rather than full containment. In Victoria’s north-east, the Shire of Towong and Walwa bushfires remain active with limited containment achieved so far, and emergency warnings have been issued at various stages as conditions fluctuate. The Ravenswood South bushfire near Harcourt is still active and not fully contained, despite some slowing of fire activity. In contrast, several smaller fires have seen successful containment. The Grass Flat fire near Natimuk, along with the Streatham and Mt Mercer fires, has been reported as contained or under control, allowing authorities to shift focus toward recovery and damage assessments in those areas. Overall, while firefighting efforts have made progress in containing some smaller blazes, most of the larger bushfires across Victoria remain only partially contained or uncontained and are expected to continue burning for an extended period under changing weather conditions. Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place? Evacuation orders and emergency alerts remain in effect for several parts of Victoria (7). Emergency warnings have instructed residents in areas near Walwa, Tallangatta Valley, Koetong, Shelley, and parts of the Otways to take shelter immediately as it is too late to leave safely (8). Watch and Act alerts continue for multiple communities, and relief centers are operating in towns including Seymour, Yea, Wodonga, and Mansfield (9). Authorities have urged residents to follow VicEmergency updates closely, avoid fire-affected zones, and evacuate early if advised (10). How can I protect myself from bushfire smoke? Always plan ahead to protect yourself from bushfire smoke. Web Link Bushfire Map Spotlight: Victoria Bushfires, Australia - IQAir IQAir