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| NSW and Queensland fires: Berejiklian 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 bushfires continue to burn across Australia’s east coast | Fears for Sydney and the Hunter with conditions set to worsen on Tuesday, while dozens of bushfires continue to burn across Australia’s east coast |
| NSW Ambulance has issued the following health warning for those affected: | |
| People with any respiratory issues or who are particularly vulnerable can be the first to feel the effects of smoke which may aggravate their existing condition. Even healthy adults and children can be impacted by the effects of heavy smoke which can result in lung irritation. | |
| These conditions can have a serious impact on your health and it is important to remember that our bodies have to work extra hard to cope or cool down. Ensure you stay hydrated and pay particular attention to any symptoms (dizziness, headaches, racing pulse or nausea) of heat related illness. | |
| Be aware of potential hazards such as embers, falling debris, damage to surroundings and reduced visibility which can cause injury. Paramedics are urging people in fire affected areas to wear any form of eyewear and lose clothing to cover your skin to assist in reducing any incidental injury. | |
| NSW Ambulance recommends if anyone sustains any form of burn they should cool the affected area immediately with water – ideally running water – for a minimum of 20 minutes (for eyes ensure you flush the eye) and seek medical attention. | |
| We need people to really take care of themselves. If you have a pre-existing medical condition make sure you have all your medications with you and readily available at all times. | |
| Dramatic footage from Yeppoon in Queensland. This is part of the Cobraball, Bungundarra, Maryvale and Lake Mary fire, as currently named by the Queensland RFS. | |
| The fire is currently at watch and act and residents have been told to prepare to leave. | |
| As of 8am AEST, the RFS said the fire was travelling from Cobraball towards Bungundarra, Maryvale and Lake Mary. | |
| “The fire is currently impacting Mount Lizard, east of Evans Road, south of Mapes Road, south of Ingrey Road, east of Serpentine Road and north of Cobraball Road. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.” | |
| The University of Newcastle has closed all campuses tomorrow, apart from Newcastle city and Sydney. | |
| As of 11.20 AEDT, here’s the latest on the bushfires across NSW and Queensland: | |
| 60 fires burning in NSW, and 47 across Queensland. | |
| At least 150 homes destroyed in NSW – with that expected to rise. | |
| 970,000 hectares burnt in NSW, nearly as much as the last three fire seasons combined | |
| Greens MP Adam Bandt has also responded to deputy PM Michael McCormack’s comments that the link between climate change and worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings”. | |
| Bandt said McCormack was “a dangerous fool”. | |
| Dael Allison is from the tiny NSW town of Bobin, north-west of Taree. | Dael Allison is from the tiny NSW town of Bobin, north-west of Taree. |
| “Bobin is shocking,” she says. “Bobin is devastated. There would be entire hillsides that wouldn’t have a tree standing.” | “Bobin is shocking,” she says. “Bobin is devastated. There would be entire hillsides that wouldn’t have a tree standing.” |
| Allison drove with her partner, Rick Haughton, and son from Port Stephens to Bobin on Sunday to check on friends and on their property, where they grow eucalypts. | Allison drove with her partner, Rick Haughton, and son from Port Stephens to Bobin on Sunday to check on friends and on their property, where they grow eucalypts. |
| The main house is still standing, but sheds, the original cottage they built and that their children spent the first years of their lives in, and most of the land are burnt out. | The main house is still standing, but sheds, the original cottage they built and that their children spent the first years of their lives in, and most of the land are burnt out. |
| “We’ve had fires but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Allison says. “I’ve never seen fires that come right down to the water level of the creek. | “We’ve had fires but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Allison says. “I’ve never seen fires that come right down to the water level of the creek. |
| “I don’t know where fire crews are getting their water from.” | “I don’t know where fire crews are getting their water from.” |
| Allison says they made the two-and-a-half hour drive from Port Stephens where they are based because communications in the Bobin area have been down. | Allison says they made the two-and-a-half hour drive from Port Stephens where they are based because communications in the Bobin area have been down. |
| “One of the reasons we went up there was so that we could talk to friends and check if they were OK and let their families know. People assume when there’s no communication the worst has happened. But all the phone lines are down. | “One of the reasons we went up there was so that we could talk to friends and check if they were OK and let their families know. People assume when there’s no communication the worst has happened. But all the phone lines are down. |
| “The whole area is just on fire. At least a dozen people I know have lost houses. That would be nowhere near the final count.” | “The whole area is just on fire. At least a dozen people I know have lost houses. That would be nowhere near the final count.” |
| Meanwhile, Sydney radio host Alan Jones has blamed The Greens for the bushfire conditions, referencing a supposed lack of backburning. | Meanwhile, Sydney radio host Alan Jones has blamed The Greens for the bushfire conditions, referencing a supposed lack of backburning. |
| The 2GB host said there was in fact “room for a bit of politics” in looking at the causes of the current crisis. | The 2GB host said there was in fact “room for a bit of politics” in looking at the causes of the current crisis. |
| Western Australian farmer, and 2010 Australian rural woman of the year, Sue Middleton is the latest regional Australian to take aim at deputy PM Michael McCormack’s comments earlier today. | Western Australian farmer, and 2010 Australian rural woman of the year, Sue Middleton is the latest regional Australian to take aim at deputy PM Michael McCormack’s comments earlier today. |
| McCormack had said linking climate change to worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings”. | McCormack had said linking climate change to worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings”. |
| Here’s Middleton replying to ABC Canberra radio host Anna Vidot: | Here’s Middleton replying to ABC Canberra radio host Anna Vidot: |
| In NSW, an update on the watch and act for the Washpool State Forest fire near Coombadjha. | In NSW, an update on the watch and act for the Washpool State Forest fire near Coombadjha. |
| It is now more than 31,800 hectares and is out of control. Water bombing aircraft are currently working to slow the fire to the north. | It is now more than 31,800 hectares and is out of control. Water bombing aircraft are currently working to slow the fire to the north. |
| According to the RFS: “The fire is burning on both sides of the Carnham Road, and both sides of the Clarence Way in the vicinity Eighteen Mile. | According to the RFS: “The fire is burning on both sides of the Carnham Road, and both sides of the Clarence Way in the vicinity Eighteen Mile. |
| “The fire on the Western side of the Clarence River is still moving north towards Ewingar.” | “The fire on the Western side of the Clarence River is still moving north towards Ewingar.” |
| On Saturday, the CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, Dr Richard Thornton, had this to say on why conditions are so bad. | On Saturday, the CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, Dr Richard Thornton, had this to say on why conditions are so bad. |
| In NSW, more than 100 people – including 20 firefighters – have been injured by bushfires, according to NSW Ambulance. | In NSW, more than 100 people – including 20 firefighters – have been injured by bushfires, according to NSW Ambulance. |
| The NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said 30 additional ambulance crews would be deployed, and he was considering bringing in more help from interstate. | The NSW Ambulance commissioner, Dominic Morgan, said 30 additional ambulance crews would be deployed, and he was considering bringing in more help from interstate. |
| “Over the last few days our doctors and paramedics have been exceedingly busy; they’ve treated over 100 patients for fire-related activity,” he said. “We had a whole range of things that have been confirmed from very severe burns, sadly resulting in a loss of life in some instances, right down to minor injuries and minor burns.” | “Over the last few days our doctors and paramedics have been exceedingly busy; they’ve treated over 100 patients for fire-related activity,” he said. “We had a whole range of things that have been confirmed from very severe burns, sadly resulting in a loss of life in some instances, right down to minor injuries and minor burns.” |
| The small NSW town of Torrington lost 12 homes on Friday. | The small NSW town of Torrington lost 12 homes on Friday. |
| Residents of the village, population of only 81, described it as “apocalyptic” and the worst bushfires in living memory. | Residents of the village, population of only 81, described it as “apocalyptic” and the worst bushfires in living memory. |
| AAP has this report from on the ground: | AAP has this report from on the ground: |
| 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. | 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 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 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 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. | 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 now more than 19,000 hectares in size. | It is burning in a north and easterly direction and is spreading quickly. The fire is now 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” |