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NSW and Queensland fires: residents face 'horrifying beast' of a bushfire, mayor says – live NSW and Queensland fires: residents face 'horrifying beast' of a bushfire, mayor says – live
(32 minutes later)
Emergency warnings for 17 fires in NSW, three in Queensland and one in Western Australia, as commissioner says NSW is in ‘uncharted territory’Emergency warnings for 17 fires in NSW, three in Queensland and one in Western Australia, as commissioner says NSW is in ‘uncharted territory’
Homes on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are under threat from an out-of-control bushfire.
Police have told residents at Cooroibah, near Noosa, to leave now, AAP reports.
An exclusion zone has been set up that includes: Louis Bazzo Drive south to Kimbah Court, and McKinnon Drive east to Lake Cooroibah Road, continuing along Noosa River waterway north to Boreen Point, then across to McKinnon Drive at Louis Bazzo Drive.
“The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path,” the QFES said.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions are expected to become extremely dangerous over the next several hours.
More recently, the Noosa suburb of Tewantin has been evacuated.
WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Service says there are also bushfires at Wongan Hills and Coondle, north-east of Perth.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman has just appeared on the ABC.
He says:
a cool change that will blow through Port Macquarie and surrounds this evening will not necessarily bring relief; it may add further fire danger
in the early hours of tomorrow, the strong wind changes should settle, humidity will increase and temperatures should fall.
that should ease fire conditions somewhat, but “fire weather conditions are expected all the way through the weekend”
Hi everyone, I’m Luke Henriques-Gomes and I’ll be guiding you through for the rest of the evening. Thanks to Ben Smee for his work today.Hi everyone, I’m Luke Henriques-Gomes and I’ll be guiding you through for the rest of the evening. Thanks to Ben Smee for his work today.
A water bombing plane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington, 335km north east of Sydney, on Friday 8 November.A water bombing plane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington, 335km north east of Sydney, on Friday 8 November.
There are 19 emergency level fires burning in NSW and southern Queensland, with most in the mid-north and north coast areas of NSW. There are also serious fires in the Blue Mountains and the Sunshine Coast.There are 19 emergency level fires burning in NSW and southern Queensland, with most in the mid-north and north coast areas of NSW. There are also serious fires in the Blue Mountains and the Sunshine Coast.
The area around Crowdy Head National Park near Forster and Hillville near Taree both seem particularly severe, as are fires near the city of Port Macquarie and the town of Grafton.The area around Crowdy Head National Park near Forster and Hillville near Taree both seem particularly severe, as are fires near the city of Port Macquarie and the town of Grafton.
But it’s worth mentioning there are no winners in the “most serious” stakes, each of those 19 fires, and more than 100 others, should be closely monitored by locals. Act on the advice of emergency services authorities.But it’s worth mentioning there are no winners in the “most serious” stakes, each of those 19 fires, and more than 100 others, should be closely monitored by locals. Act on the advice of emergency services authorities.
The RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says the state is in “uncharted territory” and has never had so many simultaneous fire warnings. There is also concern that the hot, dry, windy conditions fuelling these fires could get worse in some places through this evening.The RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says the state is in “uncharted territory” and has never had so many simultaneous fire warnings. There is also concern that the hot, dry, windy conditions fuelling these fires could get worse in some places through this evening.
Some people have been told it is too late to leave, as many roads have been closed and are considered unsafe to use. Both of the main highway routes running through eastern NSW – the Pacific Highway and the New England Highway – have been closed at various places.Some people have been told it is too late to leave, as many roads have been closed and are considered unsafe to use. Both of the main highway routes running through eastern NSW – the Pacific Highway and the New England Highway – have been closed at various places.
An update on the Coombes Gap fire near Port Macquarie, where many of those orange-red pics are coming from.An update on the Coombes Gap fire near Port Macquarie, where many of those orange-red pics are coming from.
The extent of the fires – 16 emergency level fires in NSW and three in Queensland – must be putting a strain on fire resources.The extent of the fires – 16 emergency level fires in NSW and three in Queensland – must be putting a strain on fire resources.
Local crews often share workloads, equipment and expertise with one another. But it’s hard to do that when most communities from Taree to the Sunshine Coast have some sort of fire situation.Local crews often share workloads, equipment and expertise with one another. But it’s hard to do that when most communities from Taree to the Sunshine Coast have some sort of fire situation.
Just to recap.Just to recap.
Today’s fires are “unprecedented”.Today’s fires are “unprecedented”.
The fires in Queensland earlier this year were “unprecedented”.The fires in Queensland earlier this year were “unprecedented”.
The Townsville flood was “unprecedented”.The Townsville flood was “unprecedented”.
The inland flood afterwards was “unprecedented”.The inland flood afterwards was “unprecedented”.
The central Queensland fires last year were “unprecedented”.The central Queensland fires last year were “unprecedented”.
The drought is “unprecedented”.The drought is “unprecedented”.
Residents at Cooroibah on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland are now evacuating after the fire there was elevated to emergency level.Residents at Cooroibah on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland are now evacuating after the fire there was elevated to emergency level.