Smoke blankets Melbourne as Otways fire bears down on town
January 25, 2026 — 8:14am
A thick haze of smoke enveloped Melbourne on Sunday morning, as a fire in the Otway Ranges intensified overnight, issuing an emergency warning and threatening a small town. The Carlisle River fire, having breached containment lines on Saturday, is now just a kilometer away from Gellibrand, a town of 230 residents, after expanding to 8000 hectares on Saturday night.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts Melbourne's temperature will peak at 25 degrees on Sunday, offering temporary relief before extreme heat returns on Tuesday. An air quality notice has been issued for Greater Melbourne and Geelong, as the Otway fire's smoke spreads across central Victoria. Despite this, the air quality in Spotswood was rated as fair early on Sunday by the Environmental Protection Agency.
An updated emergency warning, issued at 5:19 am, stated that the fire was being pushed east towards Gellibrand, urging residents to take shelter immediately. The fire's rapid growth and proximity to homes in Gellibrand are cause for serious concern.
A total fire ban remains in effect for several fire districts in the state, including the Northern Country, North Central, North East, and Gippsland. Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman highlighted the Dargo and Walwa fires in the High Country as particularly concerning, with the Walwa fire showing active behavior and the Dargo fire increasing in activity.
The impact of bushfires in Victoria has been devastating, with over 1000 structures damaged so far this summer, including 289 homes. The Longwood fire, which ravaged parts of central Victoria earlier this month, is now contained.
In the state's west, Mildura, Nhill, Hopetoun, and Horsham all reached 42 degrees on Saturday, and the Australian Open was briefly suspended due to temperatures soaring to 38.1 degrees at Melbourne Park, with Mount Gellibrand near the Otways fire site reaching 38.6 degrees.
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