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NSW and Queensland fires: emergency warnings for 17 fires in NSW – live NSW and Queensland fires: emergency warnings for 17 fires in NSW – live
(32 minutes later)
There are fears that some people are trapped in their homes in an unprecedented bushfire emergencyThere are fears that some people are trapped in their homes in an unprecedented bushfire emergency
Residents of one small Queensland town have two dangerous bushfires burning on either side of them, AAP reports.
One of them is a blaze at Tarome, a rural hamlet some 80km southwest of Brisbane, that is expected to affect the little community by early evening.
The other blaze is at Clumber and Moogerah, where a prepare to leave order has been issued.
People were told to leave Tarome on Friday afternoon as the fire raced towards Tarome Road, Ryan Road, Simmonds Road, Hinrichsen Road, Campsite Road, Rose Road and the Cunningham Highway.
Roads were blocked and evacuation centre was set up at nearby Aratula.
The RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons tells the ABC that authorities have received preliminary reports from the field. He says there has been “widespread property damage and destruction” across multiple fire grounds..
The RFS has also received a few reports of minor injuries to both fire fighters and residents protecting their homes, Fitzsimmons says.
“It’s been a tough day,” he says. “And we’ve still got a long time left yet to deal with these fires.”
The ABC reports that two homes have been destroyed on the NSW far north coast, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service. But that number is expected to rise, they say.
It appears that only part of Tewantin, near Noosa, has been evacuated.It appears that only part of Tewantin, near Noosa, has been evacuated.
Megan Stiffler, the Queensland Fire Emergency Service’s assistant commissioner, says authorities have told northern parts of Tewantin to leave now.Megan Stiffler, the Queensland Fire Emergency Service’s assistant commissioner, says authorities have told northern parts of Tewantin to leave now.
“What we want to do is doit in a measured manner, so the whole community should be on alert. However, we’re not evacuating people until it’s necessary and we’re ensuring that they have plenty of time should they need to leave. “What we want to do is do it in a measured manner, so the whole community should be on alert. However, we’re not evacuating people until it’s necessary and we’re ensuring that they have plenty of time should they need to leave.
Asked if it is correct that about a couple hundred people will be evacuated, Stiffler says: “That would be the maximum at this stage. It’s important to note as this fire moves forward, it will be a staged progression. We wouldn’t expect the whole community to move at the same time. We have plenty of resources.”Asked if it is correct that about a couple hundred people will be evacuated, Stiffler says: “That would be the maximum at this stage. It’s important to note as this fire moves forward, it will be a staged progression. We wouldn’t expect the whole community to move at the same time. We have plenty of resources.”
The mayor of the shire of Kempsey, Liz Campbell, is speaking on the ABC. Kempsey is about 40 minutes north of Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast.The mayor of the shire of Kempsey, Liz Campbell, is speaking on the ABC. Kempsey is about 40 minutes north of Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast.
“In our shire, it’s extremely concerning for up river, where we have a really big fire around the Cattai National Park and then around Bellbrook and then the town of Kempsey, which is only about 7km from where I am in town. And they just seem to be getting bigger and increasing.”“In our shire, it’s extremely concerning for up river, where we have a really big fire around the Cattai National Park and then around Bellbrook and then the town of Kempsey, which is only about 7km from where I am in town. And they just seem to be getting bigger and increasing.”
Homes on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are under threat from an out-of-control bushfire.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.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.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.“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.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.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.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.A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman has just appeared on the ABC.
He says: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 dangera 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.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”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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Today’s fires are “unprecedented”.
The fires in Queensland earlier this year were “unprecedented”.
The Townsville flood was “unprecedented”.
The inland flood afterwards was “unprecedented”.
The central Queensland fires last year were “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.