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NSW and Queensland fires: Victoria sends reinforcements as catastrophic bushfire conditions spread – live NSW and Queensland fires: Victoria sends reinforcements as catastrophic bushfire conditions spread – live
(30 minutes later)
Fears for Sydney and the Hunter with conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, while dozens of bushfires continue to burn across Australia’s east coastFears for Sydney and the Hunter with conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, while dozens of bushfires continue to burn across Australia’s east coast
More on the defence force’s help for the fire-fighting effort tomorrow.
The Royal Australian Airforce have flown firefighters in from Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart to Port Macquarie. Singleton barracks in NSW is on stand-by to provide accommodation and catering to firefighters.
Queensland firefighters are using the Kokoda barracks in Canungra to refuel aircraft. And local base commanders across both states have the authority to use defence resources to respond to any local fires.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its latest fire weather update for Tuesday.
“Hot, dry and gusty winds will generate very dangerous fire conditions across large parts of the state,” it says.
Much of this has already been communicated by RFS NSW, but in full:
Catastrophic fire danger is forecast for: Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney region and Illawarra/Shoalhaven.
Extreme fire danger forecast for: North Coast, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, New England, Northern Slopes and North Western
Severe Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire areas:Far North Coast, Far South Coast and Monaro Alpine
Very High Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire areas:Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains and Southern Slope
In Torrington, NSW, near Glen Innes, resident Thomas Eveans has returned home to find “nothing recoverable”
“The shed, the caravan parked beside it, the motorbike is gone,” he told AAP. “There was an aluminium meltdown like you wouldn’t believe.”
Eveans evacuated on Friday in the face of a “five-pronged” fire front.
“The sound – it was like hearing a plane overhead coming into land,” he said.
“All the pastures are gone, we don’t have any water,” he added. “With the drought, the last thing we bloody needed was a fire.”
Storm Sparks and her young son, Zeke Bacon, told AAP they had heard some of their animals had survived.
In good news, the Marsden, Mount Tarampa and Park Ridge South fires have been downgraded from stay informed, and Queensland RFS are now not required on scene.
In Wytaliba, the NSW town where two people died in the fires on Friday, residents are still waiting to return home.In Wytaliba, the NSW town where two people died in the fires on Friday, residents are still waiting to return home.
The town remains a crime scene after the fires, and roads have been closed for four days in a row.The town remains a crime scene after the fires, and roads have been closed for four days in a row.
Resident John Biles told AAP he had been going down to the roadblock every day.Resident John Biles told AAP he had been going down to the roadblock every day.
“I manage a property down there with my brother,” he said. “Each night I find a motel in town, go to Vinnies and get another set of clothes, and then get back out here again in the morning.”“I manage a property down there with my brother,” he said. “Each night I find a motel in town, go to Vinnies and get another set of clothes, and then get back out here again in the morning.”
The Australian Defence Force and Commonwealth agencies will be available to help with this week’s bushfires, Mathias Cormann has announced.The Australian Defence Force and Commonwealth agencies will be available to help with this week’s bushfires, Mathias Cormann has announced.
In his role as special minister of state, he told the senate that the “full resources” of the defence force would be “available to assist where they can”. In his role as special minister of state, he told the Senate the “full resources” of the defence force would be “available to assist where they can”.
“All Commonwealth agencies have been activated and are prepared to assist the state [governments] and communities,” he said. “All commonwealth agencies have been activated and are prepared to assist the state [governments] and communities,” he said.
“We’re going to have to start talking about climate change and questioning some of what our leaders have been doing for the last 30 years. Maybe it’s time for a class action from fire-affected people across the state,” says Brad Edge. “We’re going to have to start talking about climate change and questioning some of what our leaders have been doing for the last 30 years,” says Brad Edge. “Maybe it’s time for a class action from fire-affected people across the state.”
Every morning since Saturday, Edge, from Congarinni near Macksville on the mid-north coast of NSW, has returned to his property unsure if his house will still be standing.Every morning since Saturday, Edge, from Congarinni near Macksville on the mid-north coast of NSW, has returned to his property unsure if his house will still be standing.
The 200 acre bush property came under threat after two fires that had been burning for weeks at Kian Road and Fortescue Creek joined. Edge says the fires are unlike anything he’s seen on the property in his 12 years there. The 80-hectare bush property came under threat after two fires that had been burning for weeks at Kian Road and Fortescue Creek joined. Edge says the fires are unlike anything he’s seen on the property in his 12 years there.
“Our place was nowhere near the areas of concern but when they joined up they blew across the Taylors Arm river and came into the area behind our place. A number of little spot fires have just increased over the last 48 hours,” Edge told Guardian Australia on Sunday night.“Our place was nowhere near the areas of concern but when they joined up they blew across the Taylors Arm river and came into the area behind our place. A number of little spot fires have just increased over the last 48 hours,” Edge told Guardian Australia on Sunday night.
“We evacuated two days ago. We’ve been going back each morning, making sure the fire pump is running, sprinklers are going. In the last night, the water-bombing helicopter spent about four hours at the back of our place.”“We evacuated two days ago. We’ve been going back each morning, making sure the fire pump is running, sprinklers are going. In the last night, the water-bombing helicopter spent about four hours at the back of our place.”
The fire flared up again on Sunday and fire crews were at the house trying to save it.The fire flared up again on Sunday and fire crews were at the house trying to save it.
On Monday morning, Edge returned. The house was still standing and crews had installed containment lines across the property.On Monday morning, Edge returned. The house was still standing and crews had installed containment lines across the property.
“Not so much to stop it if the big winds come, but they’re giving themselves points where they can try to fight it and bring the helicopters in,” he says.“Not so much to stop it if the big winds come, but they’re giving themselves points where they can try to fight it and bring the helicopters in,” he says.
He’s not sure what will happen on Tuesday, when conditions are forecast to worsen.He’s not sure what will happen on Tuesday, when conditions are forecast to worsen.
“At the moment, it’s safe but if the wind goes to the west there’s a chance it won’t be,” he says. “At the moment it’s safe, but if the wind goes to the west there’s a chance it won’t be,” he says.
Edge, his wife and two young children have had to evacuate to multiple locations, depending on the direction of the fires. They were at his father-in-law’s home first, in a suburban estate, but had to move again on Sunday when it came under threat.Edge, his wife and two young children have had to evacuate to multiple locations, depending on the direction of the fires. They were at his father-in-law’s home first, in a suburban estate, but had to move again on Sunday when it came under threat.
“It’s a place you’d never expect to be evacuated. It’s quite unbelievable,” he said. “It’s a place you’d never expect to be evacuated – it’s quite unbelievable,” he says. “I’ve got a wife and two young kids. It’s hard on everybody. My father-in-law, it’s hard on him too.”
“I’ve got a wife and two young kids. It’s hard on everybody. My father-in-law, it’s hard on him too.”
On Monday, they moved back to his father-in-law’s place when conditions changed and they were advised to relocate from the home of friends they were staying with.On Monday, they moved back to his father-in-law’s place when conditions changed and they were advised to relocate from the home of friends they were staying with.
“We’ve got a number of friends who’ve lost their property. We’re not sure if ours will be there tomorrow,” Edge says. “We’ve got a number of friends who’ve lost their property. We’re not sure if ours will be there tomorrow,” Edge says. “But at the end of the day, everybody is OK. Everything else is replaceable.”
“But at the end of the day, everybody is OK. Everything else is replaceable.”
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has pledged further bushfire-fighting support if Australia needs it, in a conversation with Scott Morrison, reports AAP.New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has pledged further bushfire-fighting support if Australia needs it, in a conversation with Scott Morrison, reports AAP.
Ardern said Australia would receive more support from its trans-Tasman neighbours if they needed it.Ardern said Australia would receive more support from its trans-Tasman neighbours if they needed it.
“Our thoughts are with Australia right now, these are devastating fires,” Ardern said this afternoon. I contacted Prime Minister Morrison this morning just to touch base and offer New Zealand’s full support. “Our thoughts are with Australia right now, these are devastating fires,” Ardern said this afternoon. I contacted prime minister Morrison this morning just to touch base and offer New Zealand’s full support.
“He acknowledged that on one of his visits he had actually spoken to one of the New Zealanders already over there.“He acknowledged that on one of his visits he had actually spoken to one of the New Zealanders already over there.
“I’ve made the offer, to definitely let us know if further support is required. We’re working through an additional request ... for additional fire fighters.” “I’ve made the offer, to definitely let us know if further support is required. We’re working through an additional request ... for additional firefighters.”
There are currently five New Zealand fire fighters in the field, with a sixth on the way. There are currently five New Zealand firefighters in the field, with a sixth on the way.
“These people are specialists helping in air attack and heavy machinery supervision, safety, and managing interstate deployments,” Fire and Emergency NZ manager Paul Turner said. “These people are specialists helping in air attack and heavy-machinery supervision, safety and managing interstate deployments,” Fire and Emergency NZ manager Paul Turner said.
Tomorrow’s conditions for NSW and Queensland are dire, especially in the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Shoalhaven where it’s forecast to be catastrophic. Tomorrow’s conditions for NSW and Queensland are dire, especially in the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Shoalhaven, where it’s forecast to be catastrophic.
The NSW Rural Fire Service sends out bushfire alerts on radio, TV, and the internet. The NSW Rural Fire Service sends out bushfire alerts on radio, TV and the internet.
If you’re in an affected zone you can tun in to your local ABC radio station, which is an official emergency broadcaster. They’ll give necessary updates (and if you have a battery-powered AM radio, you can still get them if the power goes out). If you’re in an affected zone, you can tun in to your local ABC radio station, which is an official emergency broadcaster. They’ll give necessary updates (and if you have a battery-powered AM radio, you can still get them if the power goes out).
The ABC Emergency Facebook page also has a list of local Facebook pages, for specific information, here.The ABC Emergency Facebook page also has a list of local Facebook pages, for specific information, here.
Below is the RFS fact sheet.Below is the RFS fact sheet.
There is more information here.There is more information here.
The electricity network operator Ausgrid has cancelled most planned maintenance work and put emergency crews on standby ahead of tomorrow.The electricity network operator Ausgrid has cancelled most planned maintenance work and put emergency crews on standby ahead of tomorrow.
“Catastrophic fire conditions and temperatures in the high 30s have been predicted across our network,” said Ausgrid’s chief operating officer, Trevor Armstrong.“Catastrophic fire conditions and temperatures in the high 30s have been predicted across our network,” said Ausgrid’s chief operating officer, Trevor Armstrong.
“The safety of the community and our people is our highest priority and that is why we have cancelled planned maintenance jobs where power would need to be interrupted for extended periods. Limited work will proceed but only in cases where it has been deemed safe to do so.“The safety of the community and our people is our highest priority and that is why we have cancelled planned maintenance jobs where power would need to be interrupted for extended periods. Limited work will proceed but only in cases where it has been deemed safe to do so.
“With strong winds expected we’re reminding people to stay well back from any fallen powerlines. If you see fallen wires always assume they’re live, stay eight metres away, which is about two car lengths, and call us on 131 388.” “With strong winds expected, we’re reminding people to stay well back from any fallen powerlines. If you see fallen wires, always assume they’re live, stay eight metres away – which is about two car lengths – and call us on 131 388.”
The NSW department of education has updated its list of closures, with a number of additional schools and Tafes now shutting down for tomorrow.The NSW department of education has updated its list of closures, with a number of additional schools and Tafes now shutting down for tomorrow.
The list includes hundreds of government and non-government primary and high schools, and Tafes, including some in relatively suburban areas.The list includes hundreds of government and non-government primary and high schools, and Tafes, including some in relatively suburban areas.
Check the list here.Check the list here.
More from Bobin resident, Ned Haughton, who has taken to social media after seeing his town devastated by the fires. More from Bobin resident Ned Haughton, who has taken to social media after seeing his town devastated by the fires.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority is sending more than 300 members to NSW after the fire-ravaged state requested more help, AAP reports.Victoria’s Country Fire Authority is sending more than 300 members to NSW after the fire-ravaged state requested more help, AAP reports.
The CFA is sending 286 firefighters, 18 supporting resources, six additional taskforce members and one CFA liaison officer to be positioned in the Hunter region and Goulburn ahead of the catastrophic fire weather conditions forecast for tomorrow.The CFA is sending 286 firefighters, 18 supporting resources, six additional taskforce members and one CFA liaison officer to be positioned in the Hunter region and Goulburn ahead of the catastrophic fire weather conditions forecast for tomorrow.
That’s in addition to the 11 strike teams sent yesterday afternoon, which will be in position by 7pm.That’s in addition to the 11 strike teams sent yesterday afternoon, which will be in position by 7pm.
The CFA has also dispatched a fleet of 76 vehicles, including 55 tankers and 21 operational support vehicles.The CFA has also dispatched a fleet of 76 vehicles, including 55 tankers and 21 operational support vehicles.
The South Australia Country Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for a fire in White Hutt on the southern Yorke peninsula:The South Australia Country Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for a fire in White Hutt on the southern Yorke peninsula:
An emotional video shot by Ned Haughton, a climate scientist who lost his childhood home in bushfires at Bobin.An emotional video shot by Ned Haughton, a climate scientist who lost his childhood home in bushfires at Bobin.
A language warning on this one.A language warning on this one.
The ABC is reporting there are eight houses confirmed destroyed in the bushfires at Yeppoon.The ABC is reporting there are eight houses confirmed destroyed in the bushfires at Yeppoon.
This footage was taken yesterday evening.This footage was taken yesterday evening.