18h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 2:20amStay up to date with the latest emergency warnings<\/p>\n
ABC Emergency<\/b>\u00a0will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio. You can find more information, including a map of all the warnings, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For warnings in Victoria, visit the VicEmergency<\/a> website.<\/p>\n For South Australia, visit the SA Country Fire Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n 12h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 8:58am<\/p>\n We’re going to end our live coverage here<\/p>\n Thanks for joining our coverage of the heatwave and bushfire situation across the country.<\/p>\n We’ll leave the live blog here, but will keep bringing you major updates via the ABC News website.<\/p>\n Otherwise, here’s how you can stay up to date:<\/p>\n Here’s a recap of the day:<\/p>\n 12h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 8:27am<\/p>\n SA donut shop closes for heatwave<\/p>\n A donut shop in South Australia’s Barossa Valley <\/b>has closed for three days, as temperatures in the region are forecast to sit in the low 40s.<\/p>\n Owners Rachel and David Brown said the intense heat could affect worker wellbeing and foot traffic on the tourist strip, as well as degrade the quality of their donuts.<\/p>\n “If it’s too hot, the dough rises too quickly and it’s not [to] our standard, so we don’t want to put out a subpar product for the sake of it,” Ms Brown said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Mr Brown said as small business owners, the closure was not a decision they made lightly.<\/p>\n “Having to close for three days has a massive impact on us as well, but it’s just something that we just felt like was the right decision to make \u2026 we just hope everyone stays cool and stays safe in these couple of days because it is almost unprecedented, this heatwave,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 12h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 8:19am<\/p>\n Further warning issued for Longwood fire<\/p>\n The warning for the Longwood fire<\/b> in Central Victoria <\/b>has extended further south.<\/p>\n There’s now a Watch and Act <\/b>warning for Caveat, Dropmore, Highlands, Terip Terip<\/b> and<\/b> Yarck.<\/b><\/p>\n Authorities say the blaze is not under control yet, and embers are starting small fires ahead of the main fire.<\/p>\n Residents of these areas should prepare to leave.<\/p>\n An emergency warning is still in place for\u00a0Avenel, Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Tarcombe, and Upton Hill<\/b>, where residents have been told to shelter.<\/p>\n 12h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 8:06am<\/p>\n WATCH: Firefighters battle blaze on Sunraysia Highway<\/p>\n Cathy and Rob were on their way to Ballarat earlier today when they found themselves in the midst of a bushfire.<\/p>\n This video captures the moment the couple were forced to reverse course near Stuart Mill:<\/p>\n Loading…13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:54amEmergency-level bushfire warning issued in WA<\/p>\n An emergency-level bushfire warning in High Wycombe<\/b> and Maida Vale<\/b>, about 27 kilometres from Perth city, has been issued, according to WA’s fire authorities. <\/b><\/p>\n EmergencyWA <\/b>has urged people in an area bound by Brand Road, Sultana Road and Roe Highway in parts of High Wycombe<\/b> to take shelter as the fire “has impacted evacuation routes”.<\/p>\n “You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you,” the authority said in the warning.<\/p>\n You can read more here:<\/p>\n 13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:47am<\/p>\n Beach goer not worried about SA’s algal bloom<\/p>\n Leo Kreca, 14, enjoyed clear waters at Brighton Beach today, saying he wasn’t concerned about SA’s algal bloom.<\/p>\n “We’re so lucky to have these beautiful beaches,” he said.<\/p>\n “It’s a community here. Everyone has got music going. There’s lots of people, they’re friendly. It’s a pretty good environment.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In recent weeks, Karenia algae cell counts have remained low or at zero in metropolitan beaches.<\/p>\n Authorities have told beachgoers to check daily conditions using the Beachsafe app or website.<\/p>\n 13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:39am<\/p>\n Zoo animals cooled with ice blocks as heatwave hits Canberra<\/p>\n As Canberra braces for high temperatures this week, animals at the National Zoo & Aquarium are being kept cool with a little extra care.<\/p>\n Temperatures in the nation’s capital have reached 35C today and are forecast to climb to 38C from Thursday through to Saturday.<\/p>\n At the zoo, staff treated five black-and-white ruffed lemurs to large fruit-based ice blocks to help them cope with the heat.<\/p>\n The zoo is also home to ring-tailed lemurs, and both species native to Madagascar’s rainforests are critically endangered.<\/p>\n Zookeepers are also using misting systems across enclosures to help reduce heat stress during the warmer months.<\/p>\n Overnight temperatures are expected to ease slightly, with lows of between 18C and 21C.<\/p>\n 13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:29am<\/p>\n Tabilk grassfire is now under control<\/p>\n A warning for a grassfire at\u00a0Tabilk in central Victoria<\/b> has been downgraded.<\/p>\n Authorities say the fire is now under control<\/b>.<\/p>\n An Advice message is now in place for\u00a0Mangalore, Mangalore West, Mitchellstown, Nagambie, Northwood<\/b> and Tabilk.<\/b><\/p>\n Residents are being told there is currently no threat<\/b>, but they should stay informed and monitor conditions.<\/p>\n 13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:19amEmergency warning issued for more towns near central Victorian fire<\/p>\n An Emergency Warning<\/b> has been issued for Caveat, Dropmore, Ruffy, Tarcombe, Terip Terip<\/b>.<\/p>\n This is related to the Longwood fire <\/b>in central Victoria, where an Emergency Warning has been in place for Longwood, Longwood East, Ruffy, Tarcombe and Upton Hill.<\/b><\/p>\n The bushfire is travelling from Hume Freeway in a south-easterly direction towards Ruffy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Residents are being told\u00a0leaving immediately<\/b> is the safest option<\/b>, before conditions become too dangerous.\n<\/p>\n 13h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 7:05amVictorian paramedics called to child locked in car amid workload increase<\/p>\n Ambulance Victoria<\/b> says it has seen an average 12 per cent increase<\/b> in workload across the state today, including a 41 per cent increase<\/b> in workload demand between 4 and 5pm.<\/b><\/p>\n “As the temperature rose, Ambulance Victoria paramedics were called to an increased number of cases relating to breathing difficulties and heart related concerns, including chest pain and cardiac arrest,” a spokesperson says.<\/p>\n “Alarmingly, paramedics were also called to a child locked in a car this afternoon.”<\/p>\n The spokesperson says staying hydrated, finding a cool place to stay such as a shopping centre or a home with air conditioning, and wearing a hat and sunscreen are all ways to reduce heat-related illness.<\/p>\n 14h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 6:49am<\/p>\n Dozens of regions record warmest day in years<\/p>\n Most locations have now reached their maximum temperature for today, and dozens of regions have recorded their warmest day in years, including:<\/p>\n Victoria<\/b><\/p>\n Melbourne 41.0C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 6 years<\/p>\n Geelong 43.3C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 6 years<\/p>\n Warrnambool 41.3C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 7 years<\/p>\n Laverton 43.1C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 6 years<\/p>\n Avalon 43.6C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 6 years<\/p>\n SA<\/b><\/p>\n Mt Gambier 41.6C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 5 years<\/p>\n Edithburgh 44.5C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 5 years<\/p>\n Whyalla 45.8C <\/b>\u2014 hottest day in 7 years<\/p>\n Port Augusta 46.3C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 7 years<\/p>\n Port Lincoln 44.5C<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 hottest day in 7 years<\/p>\n 14h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 6:38am<\/p>\n Photos show smoke near Longwood fire<\/p>\n The fire at Longwood<\/b> in northern Victoria is still at emergency level and not yet under control.<\/p>\n The bushfire is travelling from the Hume Freeway<\/b>\u00a0in a south-easterly\u00a0direction towards\u00a0Longwood-Ruffy Road<\/b>.<\/p>\n The State Control Centre says there are five aircraft performing water drops.<\/p>\n The town and residential area are away from the fire, but smoke is visible to the community.<\/p>\n These photos were taken from the end of Hill Street in Longwood near the White Hart Hotel.<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-7e4205ca-9dc6-44b6-954d-3c45830c98bd.jpeg\")
Rachel and David Brown have made the call to shut down their donut shop during the heatwave. (ABC News: Stephen Opie)<\/p>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-63136b47-daae-491c-b0f9-87e4b0b82d58.jpeg\")
The donut shop in SA’s Barossa Valley closed in the heat to protect staff’s wellbeing. (ABC News: Stephen Opie)<\/p>\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-5030f068-c159-4432-b6fd-14aaa46f48d0.jpeg\")
Leo Kreca says he isn’t worried about the algal bloom. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-d410d4d9-7d64-46f2-a0f5-faf5b2574088.jpeg\")
Leo Kreca was at Brighton beach in Adelaide as temperatures hit 43C in parts of the city. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-be97fe0f-7681-441b-83a2-53d0c7a68b62.jpeg\")
(ABC News: Lois Maskiell)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-1c50ad25-d691-4a77-8f21-c116f3451cb5.jpeg\")
(ABC News: Lois Maskiell)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-7e638a34-022e-4ff3-be08-2ccfa0bf730a.jpeg\")
Smoke is visible in the distance for residents in Longwood, in Victoria’s north. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"Judd](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/lcimg-3585d295-37d7-423d-86fa-c3dffd853d37.jpg\")
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An emergency warning is still active for the Longwood fire. (Supplied)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-c071ae2c-734f-4645-96f0-067e630204be.png\")
The latest fire danger warnings in Victoria (Country Fire Authority)15h agoWed 7 Jan 2026 at 5:23amFires south of Canberra brought under control![\"Namadgi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-5c949c1e-3eef-4cec-a794-d7aff32791d4.jpeg\")
Namadgi National Park (ABC News, file photo)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/lcimg-bd782b36-fa9a-4d64-b830-c4ce479c8e25.png\")
Firefighters have so far slowed the spread of the fire. (VicEmergency)<\/p>\n