General News
31 July, 2026
Inquiry finds Harcourt fire response “significantly limited” damage despite conditions
The inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires across Victoria was put to parliament this week, outlining a range of issues from the cause of fires to emergency service responses.
The legislative council and environment and planning committee’s report into the 2026 Victorian bushfires described the impact as “devastating”, characterising the events as a “mosaic of fires in a geographical spread not seen in a single day in Victoria since Ash Wednesday in 1983.”
While the Central Goldfields were spared from the worst of the 2026 Summer Bushfires, the severity of the Harcourt fire resulted in attendance of local fire brigades to protect homes.
Local brigade volunteers worked from hours late into the night of January 9, 2026 after a fire at Ravenswood spread east and destroyed 74 houses and 23 properties, according to the inquiry.
The fire was ongoing before it was contained on January 16.
Many volunteers worked in the days after the fire was contained.
The inquiry outlined the effectiveness of community education, fire preparation and use of the Vic Emergency app leading to less fatalities compared to previous fire events, such as the 2009 Black Saturday Fires.
On January 9, the app received 1.6 billion hits.
However, stakeholders in proximity to Harcourt shared warnings were “very general” and needed to provide information on what the fire was doing and what people were expected to do.
Recommendations outlined further education campaigns in communities with high fire risk around all emergency warning information services available.
The inquiry noted the damage to telecommunications infrastructure at Mt Alexander meant impacted towns, as well as nearby communities including the Central Goldfields, were unable to receive broadcast television and some commercial radio stations.
Power outages across the region also occurred.
Other recommendations called for the delivery of a reliable power supply in bushfire prone communities, and for the Victorian Government to advocate for “stronger telecommunications resilience” in disaster-prone areas.
Adequacy of resources was also examined. The inquiry found requests for support were fulfilled and strong “cross agency collaboration” was demonstrated.
Upon examining the responses to the 2026 Summer Bushfires, the inquiry described “extraordinary dedication and bravery of fire-fighters, volunteers and emergency personnel” whose efforts “significantly limited loss of life under extreme conditions”.
Harcourt Fire Brigade Captain Andrew Wilson acknowledged support from strike teams following continuous requests for more tankers as the Harcourt fire escalated.
“What also worked well was the support from the many strike teams on the day and the following weeks. It gave the local brigades a break before the fire was handed back to the local brigades and groups,” he told the committee.
The related findings stated “tremendous skill and dedication in tackling fires in unprecedented difficult conditions”.
The inquiry also noted evidence of these crews using “older trucks” in catastrophic conditions.
While they are still being regarded as “valuable assets” for their firefighting efforts in such conditions, various recommendations state the need for the State Government to establish a dedicated rural firefighting water infrastructure fund, to support the installation and maintenance of water storage asset in fire prone communities and to provide funding to CFA brigades and communities for large‑capacity firefighting water tanks.
The inquiry stated the cause of the Harcourt Fire is subject to ongoing investigation.