Ambulance Victoria has declared a Red Escalation across the state from 7am on Friday 9 January 2026. This follows the declaration of catastrophic fire danger in the South West, Wimmera, North Central and North Country regions, and was made in consultation with emergency service partners.
For their safety, paramedics and first responders are being relocated from ambulance branches in these high-risk areas. This includes branches that are close to bushland or have limited road access, which could be dangerous during severe fire conditions.
This page will be updated as new information comes to hand.
Last updated Friday 9 January at 5:40pm
Branch relocations
Some paramedic branches have been temporarily relocated to ensure the continued safety of our crews.
These crews will continue to respond to the community where it is safe to do so, and where those cases require an emergency response.
- Alexandra
- Ballan
- Corryong
- Daylesford
- Eildon
- Euroa
- Heathcote
- Kinglake
- Marysville
- Rushworth
- Stawell
- Yea
ACO and CERT branches temporarily stood down
Volunteer branches in some affected areas will not be operating during this period.
We thank the community for their understanding as we make these precautionary changes to protect patients, paramedics and other emergency workers.
- Balmoral
- Blackwood CERT
- Halls Gap ACO
- Lavers Hill
- Marysville ACO
- Mitta Mitta ACO
- Patchewollock ACO
- Trentham ACO
More information
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