08/01/2026
Tomorrow has been declared a day of Catastrophic Fire Danger in the Wimmera, North Central, Northern Country and South West Victoria.
A Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating means that if a fire starts it will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast-moving. Even well-prepared homes and properties aren’t safe.
Due to this, Ambulance Victoria has announced that there will be a RED ESCALATION of Ambulance Services across Victoria. This means that Paramedics and First Responders in high risk areas will be redeployed to safer areas. Crews will only be deployed into high risk areas for serious and life-threatening illness, and only after each case has been risk assessed.
What does this mean for you?
If you live in a vulnerable area, such as out of a town or within 2 streets of the edge of a town, you should consider leaving tonight or early tomorrow. Go somewhere safe, such as the home of friends or family in a safe location, a local library or a shopping centre.
When packing your bag ensure that you include:
- All medications, including spares and scripts.
- Glasses, hearing aids and mobility aids.
- Your phone, charger and a power bank.
- A first aid kit, including things like basic pain relief.
If you have a medical condition or illness consider enacting your sick day management plan (Asthma sufferers - I’m looking at you).
If you're planning to leave home for the day please also note there will be widespread business, state park and public place/transport closures tomorrow (some beaches are closed and vline trains aren't running FYI).
If your plan is to stay and defend consider the following:
- Have you got a well communicated fire plan? If not, I'd suggest option 1 - leaving early.
- Have you got a few days worth of medication, simple pain relief, and first aid supplies if you get cut off?
- Have you got drinking water if the power goes out and the pump isn’t working?
- Have you got a few days worth of nutritious meals that can be prepared without power?
Stay cool and stay safe out there tomorrow!
RED ESCALATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES ACROSS VICTORIA
Ambulance Victoria has declared a Red Escalation across Victoria from 7am on Friday 9 January 2026, in response to the catastrophic fire danger declaration for the South West, Wimmera, North Central and North Country regions and in consultation with our emergency service partners.
For their safety, paramedics and first responders are being relocated from branches within declared regions of catastrophic fire danger risk and where those branches have been identified as high-risk due to their proximity to bushland and limited road access.
Crews will only be redeployed into these zones in the case of serious or life-threatening illness and only after a thorough risk assessment to consider the safety of our people.
Victorians are asked to follow official advice on VicEmergency for their own safety and the safety of emergency services personnel.
A Red Escalation is the highest level of Ambulance Victoria’s response framework and is declared when an incident is, or has the potential to, cause severe impact to normal operations. It enables Ambulance Victoria to activate its Emergency Response Plan and take additional actions beyond normal business operations to maintain community and paramedic safety and patient care.
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