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NSW and Qld fires: 10 emergency warnings issued for out-of-control bushfires – live NSW and Qld fires: 10 emergency warnings issued for out-of-control bushfires – live
(32 minutes later)
New South Wales residents prepare for catastrophic fire conditions across Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven with strong winds and high temperatures forecast as dozens of bushfires continue to burn across both Queensland and NSWNew South Wales residents prepare for catastrophic fire conditions across Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven with strong winds and high temperatures forecast as dozens of bushfires continue to burn across both Queensland and NSW
Josh Taylor here covering the ongoing fire crises on the live blog this afternoon and into the evening. Thanks to my colleagues Naaman Zhou and Chris Knaus for their coverage so far.
There is a total fire ban in New South Wales today, and the police are taking that very seriously.
The NSW police say they’ve taken action against three men for breaching the ban, and a child for committing an act of arson.
Yesterday afternoon, a 27-year-old man in Wallacia allegedly lit a camp fire to boil water for a cup of tea. Police issued him with a $2,200 on-the-spot fine.
Then in the evening, a 35-year-old man in Prestons was issued with an infringement notice for allegedly burning fence palings in a barbecue, which caused a secondary blaze.
A 46-year-old man allegedly lit a fire in a small coal barbecue at Lalor Park. He was arrested for failing to comply with the ban, and for a breach of bail.
A 9-year-old boy has been issued with a warning after starting a small grassfire using a blowtorch in Worrigee this morning.
“A total fire ban means no fires out in the open. This helps limit the potential of fires developing,” NSW police said.
“During a total fire ban you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire.”
Bill Ludwig, mayor of Livingston Shire, has just been speaking about the fire in Yeppoon in central Queensland, which destroyed eight homes. Ludwig previously said he had never seen a fire in the region that started so fast, moved so quickly, and put so many people under threat.
He told the ABC on Monday that the climate was clearly changing and it was having “dramatic consequences that were unfolding every year and appear to be escalating”.
Ludwig spoke to reporters again on Tuesday and said affected residents were now looking to return to their homes. He has urged the general public to stay off the roads near the fire grounds, even if they have been reopened.
“We do not need sightseers, we have a live situation in place and we want people to do the right thing so the firefighters can effectively respond to the fire and the recovery, including the inspections that are happening to make sure areas are safe,” Ludwig told reporters in Queensland.
Plesman has lived on the property in Nymboida on and off since she was born. She said in the past decade, the weather had become increasingly unpredictable in terms of both fires and drought.
Storms that used to occur of an evening in summer and fill up the dams had become less reliable.
“People who are struggling to survive want everyone to know this is a climate emergency,” she said.
“All my family were well set up. Sprinkler systems. Fire systems. What we’re seeing is that nothing can withstand the catastrophic nature of these fires.
“People know that living in the bush, there is fire. But they want people to know we’ve never experienced anything like this.”
A before and after of Gemma Plesman’s home:A before and after of Gemma Plesman’s home:
“We had four houses on the property,” Gemma Plesman says.“We had four houses on the property,” Gemma Plesman says.
“Three were burnt completely. My mum and two of my aunties lost their homes. It’s really horrific, they’re completely gone.”“Three were burnt completely. My mum and two of my aunties lost their homes. It’s really horrific, they’re completely gone.”
Plesman is from Brisbane but grew up in Nymboida, a rural town in northern NSW, about 45 minutes from Grafton. Over the weekend, fire tore through the rural property, which Plesman’s mother and her mother’s siblings had purchased four decades ago.Plesman is from Brisbane but grew up in Nymboida, a rural town in northern NSW, about 45 minutes from Grafton. Over the weekend, fire tore through the rural property, which Plesman’s mother and her mother’s siblings had purchased four decades ago.
Three of the four houses they had built on the land were completely destroyed. The remaining house was partially burnt.Three of the four houses they had built on the land were completely destroyed. The remaining house was partially burnt.
“The heartbreaking thing – everybody has built them themselves,” Plesman says. “They’re not your typical kit house.“The heartbreaking thing – everybody has built them themselves,” Plesman says. “They’re not your typical kit house.
“Mudbricks they made by hand. Beautiful rocks they’d picked up at the creek and put into the walls. That’s all gone.”“Mudbricks they made by hand. Beautiful rocks they’d picked up at the creek and put into the walls. That’s all gone.”
Plesman says along the same stretch of road, several of her friends had lost their homes as well.Plesman says along the same stretch of road, several of her friends had lost their homes as well.
“It’s like a wasteland. It’s completely desolate. I struggle to imagine what’s happened to all the animals and birds,” she says.“It’s like a wasteland. It’s completely desolate. I struggle to imagine what’s happened to all the animals and birds,” she says.
An emergency warning for Wine Country Drive, in North Rothbury.An emergency warning for Wine Country Drive, in North Rothbury.
This brings the total number of emergency warnings back up to 10.This brings the total number of emergency warnings back up to 10.
The climate rally outside NSW Parliament house earlier today has raised $4,500 for the Rural Fire Service. The rally called on the government to take action on the climate crisis, and to better fund emergency services. The climate rally outside NSW Parliament House earlier today has raised $4,500 for the Rural Fire Service. The rally called on the government to take action on the climate crisis and to better fund emergency services.
The Whans Road fire has been downgraded from emergency to watch and act.The Whans Road fire has been downgraded from emergency to watch and act.
“The fire has been downgraded due to improved conditions,” the Rural Fire Service said. “Residents in the area should continue to monitor the conditions and take advice from firefighters on the ground.”“The fire has been downgraded due to improved conditions,” the Rural Fire Service said. “Residents in the area should continue to monitor the conditions and take advice from firefighters on the ground.”
This means there are now only nine emergency warnings currently in NSW.This means there are now only nine emergency warnings currently in NSW.
The latest highest wind speeds, from the Bureau of Meteorology.The latest highest wind speeds, from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Nowra has experienced a top wind speed of 90km/h and Moss Vale 85km/h.Nowra has experienced a top wind speed of 90km/h and Moss Vale 85km/h.
Maitland airport is at 70km/h winds, Cessnock at 63km/h and Gosford at 61km/h.Maitland airport is at 70km/h winds, Cessnock at 63km/h and Gosford at 61km/h.
Coffs Harbour airport has recorded 54km/h, Glen Innes airport 63km/h and Taree airport 48km/h.Coffs Harbour airport has recorded 54km/h, Glen Innes airport 63km/h and Taree airport 48km/h.
In Sydney, Penrith has experienced 70km/h gusts.In Sydney, Penrith has experienced 70km/h gusts.
A 10th emergency warning for NSW. The Rumba Dump fire – burning in the area of Elands, Bobin and Marlee.A 10th emergency warning for NSW. The Rumba Dump fire – burning in the area of Elands, Bobin and Marlee.
The fire is near the Hillsville Road fire, which is also at emergency level.The fire is near the Hillsville Road fire, which is also at emergency level.
“If you are in the area of Elands, Bobin, Marlee and areas north-west of Wingham, seek shelter,” the Rural Fire Service says.“If you are in the area of Elands, Bobin, Marlee and areas north-west of Wingham, seek shelter,” the Rural Fire Service says.
There is now also an emergency warning in Western Australia, as a fire on the north-east fringes of Perth is posing a possible risk to lives and homes.There is now also an emergency warning in Western Australia, as a fire on the north-east fringes of Perth is posing a possible risk to lives and homes.
An emergency warning has just been issued for the western part of Bullsbrook in the City of Swan.An emergency warning has just been issued for the western part of Bullsbrook in the City of Swan.
“Homes near Ellenbrook Road are under threat by fire now. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.”“Homes near Ellenbrook Road are under threat by fire now. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.”
The blaze started near Ellenbrook Road and is moving in a westerly direction.The blaze started near Ellenbrook Road and is moving in a westerly direction.
Melinda Pavey is the NSW member for Oxley. She’s at the Kempsey Showground, which is acting as an evacuation centre for people affected by a number of fires in the area, including the emergency level Carrai East fire.Melinda Pavey is the NSW member for Oxley. She’s at the Kempsey Showground, which is acting as an evacuation centre for people affected by a number of fires in the area, including the emergency level Carrai East fire.
“We’re just hearing and listening to people and their stories,” Pavey says. “One family from up at Bellbrook went down to the Kempsey races and they came home and the house was gone.”“We’re just hearing and listening to people and their stories,” Pavey says. “One family from up at Bellbrook went down to the Kempsey races and they came home and the house was gone.”
Pavey tells me they’ve had about 600 people register at the showground, and she’s just come from the Macksville evacuation centre which was “full of volunteers getting ready for people to come in”.Pavey tells me they’ve had about 600 people register at the showground, and she’s just come from the Macksville evacuation centre which was “full of volunteers getting ready for people to come in”.
“Here we’ve got tables and tables laden with donated food and clothes and toys, for people who have lost everything,” she says, adding that local businesses and charities had donated food, fans and games consoles for the kids to stay entertained.“Here we’ve got tables and tables laden with donated food and clothes and toys, for people who have lost everything,” she says, adding that local businesses and charities had donated food, fans and games consoles for the kids to stay entertained.
“It’s typical of Kempsey and Macksville, helping the community. There’s a tremendous spirit but also a feeling of trepidation, everyone is on tenterhooks about the heat and the wind and what’s going to happen.”“It’s typical of Kempsey and Macksville, helping the community. There’s a tremendous spirit but also a feeling of trepidation, everyone is on tenterhooks about the heat and the wind and what’s going to happen.”
Pavey says her own home is not in danger but she’s worried about others.Pavey says her own home is not in danger but she’s worried about others.
“I’m worried about Bellingen tonight with the southerly. I’m just worried. I don’t want people to go through the pain.”“I’m worried about Bellingen tonight with the southerly. I’m just worried. I don’t want people to go through the pain.”
The ninth emergency warning. The fire near Kian Road has breached containment lines and is burning towards Macksville.The ninth emergency warning. The fire near Kian Road has breached containment lines and is burning towards Macksville.
“If you’re near Talarm, Macksville, Allgomera Creek, seek shelter,” the Rural Fire Service says.“If you’re near Talarm, Macksville, Allgomera Creek, seek shelter,” the Rural Fire Service says.