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NSW and Qld fires: more than 50 out-of-control New South Wales bushfires – live NSW and Qld fires: more than 50 out-of-control New South Wales bushfires – live
(31 minutes later)
Rural Fire Service a firefighter has been injured as New South Wales faces catastrophic fire conditionsRural Fire Service a firefighter has been injured as New South Wales faces catastrophic fire conditions
Chemical fire retardant was dropped on to the Sydney suburb of Turramurra, casting a pink hue over streets and houses.
Residents in Upper Lansdowne, Elands, Bobin, Marlee and areas NW of Wingham are being told to seek shelter because the Rumba dump fire has breached containment lines.
An update from the small rural community of Elands in northern NSW where there has been an emergency warning from the Rumba Dump fire. Nearby Bobin was devastated by bushfires over the weekend.
Most residents of Elands were evacuated from their homes on Monday night but a few chose to stay and defend and have congregated at the one point in town where they can get phone reception.
Susie Russell is one those residents. She said extreme winds that had been forecast had so far not eventuated.
“The local fire captain was here just now. He was hopeful the village will be able to be protected,” she said.
“It will depend what the southerly wind does that’s forecast for 2 o’clock in the morning.
“I know there’s been people very concerned about what is happening, but for those of us who are here we are calm and trying to make sure everything is alright.”
Jarra Hicks is also from Elands and is one of the residents who chose to leave after the village was door-knocked last night. She is 16 weeks pregnant and left behind her husband, father-in-law and a house they had just finished renovating to go to Newcastle where she has friends.
Communication in and out of Elands has been challenging for days because power and the mobile phone tower has been down since the Bobin fires hit on Friday.
“Most people were able to leave the village. The fire has now hit and unfortunately it’s hitting on three sides at once,” Hicks said.
“We just have one very small volunteer fire brigade fighting the fires.”
She said other community members had gone to Wingham, but they were now heading for Taree because Wingham had been evacuated now as well.
“It’s a game of hopscotch to wherever the fires are not,” she says.
“We’ve had very limited ability to communicate and because the resources of the RFS have been so stretched, we’ve had very little information at all.
“It’s highly uncertain. I expect if our home survives we will be extremely lucky because we’re a small community. There’s around 200-300 people. There’s only one volunteer fire brigade of six people.”
There’s a lot of smoke over Sydney right now.There’s a lot of smoke over Sydney right now.
Cynthia Lush was home alone in her house across the street from the South Turrumurra bushfire.Cynthia Lush was home alone in her house across the street from the South Turrumurra bushfire.
“We got a phone call about half an hour [after it started], on the home phones. It was way into the half an hour. I could hear the sirens, that’s what alerted me, then I popped my heard out and they said no get inside.”“We got a phone call about half an hour [after it started], on the home phones. It was way into the half an hour. I could hear the sirens, that’s what alerted me, then I popped my heard out and they said no get inside.”
Brian Wilson wasn’t remotely worried. The Guardian found him sitting in an outdoor chair in front of his garage, looking across the road where his neighbours’ houses were drenched in bright pink fire retardant.Brian Wilson wasn’t remotely worried. The Guardian found him sitting in an outdoor chair in front of his garage, looking across the road where his neighbours’ houses were drenched in bright pink fire retardant.
“We’ve had a couple, but everybody wants to run around. I’m quite happy to just sit here and watch them do it,” he said.“We’ve had a couple, but everybody wants to run around. I’m quite happy to just sit here and watch them do it,” he said.
“I’m on the wrong side of the hill, it blows the embers over us. Everybody panics, there’s no point.”“I’m on the wrong side of the hill, it blows the embers over us. Everybody panics, there’s no point.”
It’s a pretty surreal scene at the South Turramurra fire, where a suspiciously-lit, fast-moving bushfire came perilously close to properties in the affluent Sydney suburb.It’s a pretty surreal scene at the South Turramurra fire, where a suspiciously-lit, fast-moving bushfire came perilously close to properties in the affluent Sydney suburb.
Helicopters have hit the fire - and some nearby mansions - with a pink retardant, coating roofs, gardens, and bitumen in a thick layer of pink.Helicopters have hit the fire - and some nearby mansions - with a pink retardant, coating roofs, gardens, and bitumen in a thick layer of pink.
Multiple fires began mid-afternoon in bushland around Turramurra, including at Canoon Road and Field of Mars Avenue, where flames came within metres of homes.Multiple fires began mid-afternoon in bushland around Turramurra, including at Canoon Road and Field of Mars Avenue, where flames came within metres of homes.
Residents reported towering flames and embers dropping well ahead of the fire front, starting their own fires in the dried out bushland. Geoff Bird lives on Canoon Road, near where one of the fires ripped through bushland on Tuesday afternoon.Residents reported towering flames and embers dropping well ahead of the fire front, starting their own fires in the dried out bushland. Geoff Bird lives on Canoon Road, near where one of the fires ripped through bushland on Tuesday afternoon.
His children’s school had been closed in anticipation of fires like this, and he was well prepared.His children’s school had been closed in anticipation of fires like this, and he was well prepared.
When Bird saw the fire closest to his house, he immediately packed up, got his wife and kids out, and stayed to monitor the situation.When Bird saw the fire closest to his house, he immediately packed up, got his wife and kids out, and stayed to monitor the situation.
“I was in my backyard and saw the first plume of smoke and all the firies coming down the road. So I knew something had happened,” he told the Guardian.“I was in my backyard and saw the first plume of smoke and all the firies coming down the road. So I knew something had happened,” he told the Guardian.
“Within half an hour of that I was inside watching the news, keeping an eye on things, and then could smell the smoke and came out to see where it is.“Within half an hour of that I was inside watching the news, keeping an eye on things, and then could smell the smoke and came out to see where it is.
“From there it was a matter of packing up valuable things, we activated our fire plan, so we were ready to go, evacuated my wife and children, and then I stayed and kept a close eye on things.”“From there it was a matter of packing up valuable things, we activated our fire plan, so we were ready to go, evacuated my wife and children, and then I stayed and kept a close eye on things.”
Police were on scene quickly and have confirmed they are now treating the fire as suspicious.Police were on scene quickly and have confirmed they are now treating the fire as suspicious.
“We’ve got to get on top of this shit,” an angry Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce told Karl Stefanovic on 2GB regarding the supposed “red tape” around land clearing, that he has blamed on the Greens.“We’ve got to get on top of this shit,” an angry Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce told Karl Stefanovic on 2GB regarding the supposed “red tape” around land clearing, that he has blamed on the Greens.
These claims are, as we reported today, “without foundation” according to experts.These claims are, as we reported today, “without foundation” according to experts.
Also it bears repeating, his party has been in government in NSW since 2011, and federally since 2013.Also it bears repeating, his party has been in government in NSW since 2011, and federally since 2013.
Here comes the southerly.Here comes the southerly.
The Myall Creek Rd fire has crossed the Pacific Highway at New Italy and is moving quickly, according to the RFS.The Myall Creek Rd fire has crossed the Pacific Highway at New Italy and is moving quickly, according to the RFS.
There are still 13 fires at emergency warning level, and 7 fires at watch and act. The southerly change is expected in Sydney in the next hour or so.There are still 13 fires at emergency warning level, and 7 fires at watch and act. The southerly change is expected in Sydney in the next hour or so.
Good news for Greta residents.Good news for Greta residents.
This is a video provided to us from volunteer firefighter Dan Boswood taken at Lake Mary, west of Yeppoon.This is a video provided to us from volunteer firefighter Dan Boswood taken at Lake Mary, west of Yeppoon.
More than 150 schools and over a dozen Tafe campuses in New South Wales will be closed tomorrow, again.More than 150 schools and over a dozen Tafe campuses in New South Wales will be closed tomorrow, again.
You can find a list of the schools affected here.You can find a list of the schools affected here.
An update on the insurance situation, via my colleague Ben Butler:An update on the insurance situation, via my colleague Ben Butler:
The Insurance Council of Australia says that as of 3pm insurers had received 360 claims for fires in the NSW mid-north coast - 80 of which are suspected total losses.The Insurance Council of Australia says that as of 3pm insurers had received 360 claims for fires in the NSW mid-north coast - 80 of which are suspected total losses.
Initial losses are estimated at $40m, but this figure is likely to rise once people get access to their properties and assess the damage.Initial losses are estimated at $40m, but this figure is likely to rise once people get access to their properties and assess the damage.
The ICA has declared the mid-north coast fires a catastrophe, a technical term in the insurance industry that allows insurers to claim against specialised reinsurance policies, and more areas may follow as the fires across NSW and Queensland continue.The ICA has declared the mid-north coast fires a catastrophe, a technical term in the insurance industry that allows insurers to claim against specialised reinsurance policies, and more areas may follow as the fires across NSW and Queensland continue.
It will issue another update tomorrow, a spokesman said.It will issue another update tomorrow, a spokesman said.
The Liberation Trial fire, which was already at an emergency alert level, has breached containment lines and is threatening Yarracooma, Paddys Plain, Cradle Creek and Lowanna.The Liberation Trial fire, which was already at an emergency alert level, has breached containment lines and is threatening Yarracooma, Paddys Plain, Cradle Creek and Lowanna.
Firefighters are getting the upper hand on the fire at Wine Country Drive.Firefighters are getting the upper hand on the fire at Wine Country Drive.
There are 13 emergency warnings in place.There are 13 emergency warnings in place.
Meanwhile, prime minister Scott Morrison has told his fellow politicians to “take it down a few notches” after the ongoing fight between Nationals MPs Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack, and Greens MP Adam Bandt while NSW and Queensland are on fire. Via AAP:Meanwhile, prime minister Scott Morrison has told his fellow politicians to “take it down a few notches” after the ongoing fight between Nationals MPs Barnaby Joyce, Michael McCormack, and Greens MP Adam Bandt while NSW and Queensland are on fire. Via AAP:
“There have been a lot of provocative comments made over the last few days from all sides of the debate and I find it very unhelpful,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.“There have been a lot of provocative comments made over the last few days from all sides of the debate and I find it very unhelpful,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
“The last thing that people in an urgent crisis need at the moment is hearing politicians shout at each other.“The last thing that people in an urgent crisis need at the moment is hearing politicians shout at each other.
“There is a time and a place to debate controversial issues and important issues, right now it’s important to focus on the needs of Australians who need our help.”“There is a time and a place to debate controversial issues and important issues, right now it’s important to focus on the needs of Australians who need our help.”