Insurers have received 1,386 claims resulting from the severe bushfires impacting Victoria since 7th January 2026, with 30% of all current property claims being total losses, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).
On 12th January, the ICA declared the bushfires a Significant Event, with the fires having burned dozens of locations across Australia for several days, mainly in Victoria but also in parts of New South Wales.
Over the weekend, 30 fires were active across the state, with 10 classified as fires of particular concern. As of 11th January, 350,000 hectares had been burned across the state, and approximately 300 properties had been destroyed.
The close to 1,400 claims include property, commercial, motor and business interruption losses, with insurers already processing claims.
Several insurers and ICA representatives have established a presence at the Castlemaine Recovery Centre to assist affected residents with the claims process.
The ICA said insurers are closely monitoring access to other communities and plan to deploy additional resources across the state as soon as it is safe to do so.
The ICA is encouraging customers impacted by the bushfires to contact their insurer to begin the claims process, even if the full extent of the damage is not yet known.
Kylie Macfarlane, Deputy CEO of ICA, said, “These bushfires remain an active emergency for some parts of Victoria, so community safety remains a priority.
“The road to recovery for impacted communities will be a long one and insurers stand ready to support communities in this process.
“While claims continue to be lodged, I would encourage any policyholders who’ve been impacted to get in touch with their insurer to lodge a claim, even if they haven’t returned home and don’t yet know the full extent of the damage.”
