New South Wales faces total fire bans with 44 fires burning state-wide. NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin reports no fires are currently of "very serious concern". About 600 firefighters and 50 aircraft, including heavy air tankers, are ready. He advises residents near risk zones to activate their bush fire survival plans and monitor updates via media and apps. In Victoria, Premier Jacinta Allan declared a state of disaster in 18 local government areas due to escalating bushfires. There are 36 active fire fronts across Victoria and 19 emergency warnings urging evacuations. Allan confirmed at least 10 homes destroyed and over 50,000 hectares of bushland burned. She said the situation was "very dangerous and difficult" as firefighters battled heat and winds. Three people—a man, a woman, and a child—remain missing near Longwood after their home was destroyed by fire. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill revealed firefighters had warned them it was too late to leave. Allan asked people to check on family and neighbors during this dynamic crisis. Other fires have caused property loss in communities like Ruffy and damage to farmland around Harcourt, a noted apple-growing region. A firefighter received third-degree burns in Ruffy. Fires near Walwa have burned over 17,000 hectares in pine plantations. Sydney is also bracing for temperatures over 40°C, especially in western suburbs, while firefighting efforts continue in both states. Officials urged people advised to leave to do so promptly, emphasizing safety as the priority. Updates from NSW Premier Chris Minns and Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, along with Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan, are expected soon. The bushfire crisis is considered one of the worst since the 2019-2020 Black Summer, challenging emergency services as communities face an uncertain and tough recovery ahead.