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NSW and Queensland fires: NSW declares state of emergency amid 'catastrophic' bushfire conditions – live NSW and Queensland fires: Berejiklian declares state of emergency amid 'catastrophic' bushfire conditions – live
(32 minutes later)
Fears for Sydney and the Hunter with conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, while dozens of blazes continue to burn across two statesFears for Sydney and the Hunter with conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, while dozens of blazes continue to burn across two states
Watch and acts have been updated for the Toorumbee Complex, the Mt Nardi National Park, Hillville Road and Old Glen Innes Road fires. All are out of control.
The Toorumbee Complex fire is a new fire, formed by the joining of multiple fires in the Willi Willi area, west of Kempsey. It was formerly known as the Jacobs Spur and Armidale Road fires.
“The fire is burning in the area of Bellbrook, Hickeys Creek and Willawarrin on the southern and eastern side of the Armidale Road,” the RFS says.
“The fire has crossed the Macleay River and Armidale Road, and is heading north east towards Millbank and Sundown Creek.”
The Hillville Road fire is near Hillville, south of Taree.
It is burning in a north and easterly direction and is spreading quickly. The fire is currently more than 19,000 hectares in size.
The Old Glen Innes Road fire is in the Newtown Boyd area and is 6,600 hectares in size.
The latest RFS update says it has crossed the Boyd River. It is burning in an easterly and north easterly direction towards Coutts Crossing.
It has now merged with the Liberation Trail fire.
In Queensland nearly 50 fires are burning with crews focused on three major fires: at Cobraball south-west of Yeppoon, Cooroibah on the Sunshine Coast, and Thornton in the Lockyer Valley.
AAP reports that firefighters from Tasmania have flown in to help relieve exhausted local crews. Easterly winds expected on to pick up from Tuesday afternoon.
Three houses have been lost at the Cobraball fire, which has also burned through 11,000 hectares of land, and has a 30km long front.
Twenty-five people remain in an evacuation centre in Yeppoon with their homes not safe to return to.
The assistant commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, Megan Stiffler, said it was extremely lucky more homes had not been lost given the severity of the fires.
Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also spent some time stressing the full gravity of the catastrophic conditions forecast for Great Sydney and Greater Hunter tomorrow.
The catastrophic rating was introduced in 2009, and this is the first time it has ever been forecast for Greater Sydney. Even before 2009, he says he can’t remember seeing worse conditions in Sydney.
Berejiklian is addressing the media now, in a joint press conference with Fitzsimmons.Berejiklian is addressing the media now, in a joint press conference with Fitzsimmons.
“We also need to stress that when something is determined to be catastrophic, there is a high degree of unpredictability,” she says. “We don’t know exactly where the fires are going to flare up ...everybody has to assume the worst. “We also need to stress that when something is determined to be catastrophic, there is a high degree of unpredictability,” she says. “We don’t know exactly where the fires are going to flare up ... everybody has to assume the worst.
“That’s why we need to have all hands on deck and that’s why there is a state of emergency across the state.”“That’s why we need to have all hands on deck and that’s why there is a state of emergency across the state.”
The state of emergency was declared after RFS commissioner Fitzsimmons wrote to Berejiklian last night requesting it be declared.The state of emergency was declared after RFS commissioner Fitzsimmons wrote to Berejiklian last night requesting it be declared.
The declaration grants emergency powers to the RFS commissioner. It’s the first emergency declaration since October 2013.The declaration grants emergency powers to the RFS commissioner. It’s the first emergency declaration since October 2013.
It gives the RFS commissioner the power to:It gives the RFS commissioner the power to:
Direct any government agency to conduct or refrain from conducting its functions;Direct any government agency to conduct or refrain from conducting its functions;
Control and coordinate the allocation of government resources;Control and coordinate the allocation of government resources;
Evacuate people from property within the declared area;Evacuate people from property within the declared area;
Close roads and thoroughfares to traffic;Close roads and thoroughfares to traffic;
Pull down or shore up infrastructure at risk of collapse;Pull down or shore up infrastructure at risk of collapse;
Order the shutdown of essential utilities in the declared area including electricity, gas, oil and water; andOrder the shutdown of essential utilities in the declared area including electricity, gas, oil and water; and
Enter or take possession of property in the course of the emergency response.Enter or take possession of property in the course of the emergency response.
Berejiklian also called on the community to please pay attention to all warnings, and to do as fire authorities say.Berejiklian also called on the community to please pay attention to all warnings, and to do as fire authorities say.
NSW premier Gladys Berejilkian has declared a state of emergency in response to the bushfire crisis. The NSW premier, Gladys Berejilkian, has declared a state of emergency in response to the bushfire crisis.
The state of emergency will last for seven days. The state of emergency will last for seven days. She said this was to ensure there was coordination and a whole-of-government response in place for tomorrow and the rest of the week:
She said this was to ensure there was co-ordination and a whole of government response in place for tomorrow and the rest of the week.
“This is to make sure that we leave no stone unturned to keep our community safe tomorrow,” she said.
“I want to thank the heads of all the agencies for their cooperation and support. Everybody is fully supportive of this decision. We want to ensure that the lines of authority are clear tomorrow.
“The last time there was a state of emergency declared was in 2013 when we saw extensive bushfires throughout the Blue Mountains and other regions. And again on this occasion, we’re taking every precaution.”
Fitzsimmons says firefighters from Victoria have sent in 50 additional fire trucks to help their NSW colleagues.Fitzsimmons says firefighters from Victoria have sent in 50 additional fire trucks to help their NSW colleagues.
“We already had over 1,400 interstate personnel helping out in New South Wales over the recent weeks. We got another 400 flying in and driving in today ahead of the conditions tomorrow.”“We already had over 1,400 interstate personnel helping out in New South Wales over the recent weeks. We got another 400 flying in and driving in today ahead of the conditions tomorrow.”
More than 65 fires are burning across NSW, of which more than half are uncontained. More than 10 are at watch and act.More than 65 fires are burning across NSW, of which more than half are uncontained. More than 10 are at watch and act.
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is speaking live now: The NSW RFS commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, is speaking live now:
Earlier this morning, deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said the link between climate change and worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings”. Earlier this morning, the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, said the link between climate change and worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings”.
Follow our politics liveblog here for further developments and the growing response to that. Follow our politics live blog here for further developments and the growing response to that.
The mayor of Glen Innes, Carol Sparks, who was herself evacuated over the weekend along with 6,000 others, has already hit back. She said: The mayor of Glen Innes, Carol Sparks, who was herself evacuated at the weekend along with 6,000 others, has already hit back. She said:
Fuller comments from both her and McCormack are here.Fuller comments from both her and McCormack are here.
Queensland RFS have just issued this update to the Cobraball, Bungundarra, Maryvale and Lake Mary fire.Queensland RFS have just issued this update to the Cobraball, Bungundarra, Maryvale and Lake Mary fire.
It is still at prepare to leave.It is still at prepare to leave.
The next update on this fire will be at 9.50am AEST.The next update on this fire will be at 9.50am AEST.
Full text here.Full text here.
More than 55 schools have been closed today across NSW, and six Tafe campuses.More than 55 schools have been closed today across NSW, and six Tafe campuses.
Only one school has been closed in Queensland – Thornton state school.Only one school has been closed in Queensland – Thornton state school.
A full list of NSW schools is here.A full list of NSW schools is here.
Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of the bushfire crisis across New South Wales and Queensland.Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of the bushfire crisis across New South Wales and Queensland.
For those in fire-affected areas, please stay tuned to your local emergency broadcaster, and follow instructions from fire crews and authorities.For those in fire-affected areas, please stay tuned to your local emergency broadcaster, and follow instructions from fire crews and authorities.
Full alerts from the Rural Fire Service can be found here for NSW, and here for Queensland.Full alerts from the Rural Fire Service can be found here for NSW, and here for Queensland.
As at 8.45am AEDT:As at 8.45am AEDT:
There are 64 bush and grassfires across NSW, 40 of which are uncontained.There are 64 bush and grassfires across NSW, 40 of which are uncontained.
The Queensland RFS have issued seven prepare to leave warnings since 10pm Sunday. They are for: Cobraball/Bungundarra/Maryvale/Lake Mary; Adelaide Park; Thornton and Lefthand Branch; Clumber and Moogerah; Tarome; Rosevale; Mount Alpen and Double Top.The Queensland RFS have issued seven prepare to leave warnings since 10pm Sunday. They are for: Cobraball/Bungundarra/Maryvale/Lake Mary; Adelaide Park; Thornton and Lefthand Branch; Clumber and Moogerah; Tarome; Rosevale; Mount Alpen and Double Top.
Queensland RFS have said today will bring “slightly more favourable conditions” than yesterday, but “please do not be complacent”.Queensland RFS have said today will bring “slightly more favourable conditions” than yesterday, but “please do not be complacent”.
Tomorrow catastrophic fire danger is forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter.Tomorrow catastrophic fire danger is forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter.
The NSW RFS has told residents “use today to get ready” for tomorrow’s worse conditions.The NSW RFS has told residents “use today to get ready” for tomorrow’s worse conditions.