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NSW and Qld fires: army training exercise may have started Gold Coast blaze – live NSW and Qld fires: three emergency warnings issued for out-of-control bushfires – live
(31 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
Queensland’s acting fire commissioner says there are currently 55 fires still burning in the state, managed by over 1,000 personnel.
He says they have 40 aircraft either ready or currently in use, and is “comfortable with where we are at today and how we are set in terms of our readiness”.
“I’m very comfortable in terms of the work done. In saying that, with the severe conditions in the south-east and this afternoon into tonight, and tomorrow into central Queensland, those containment lines, where we’ve got them, will be tested.
“[But] we have got resources ready for any new outbreaks”.
Palaszczuk said that air quality particle ratings were 10 times higher than usual today, stretching from Brisbane to Ipswich to the Gold Coast.
A meteorologist from the bureau adds there is no significant rainfall on the horizon for Queensland.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also gave a press conference at the same time, she thanked firefighters, the defence force and the extra 110 firefighters from Tasmania, Victoria, the NT and New Zealand.
She confirms that 12 homes have been destroyed.
Fitzsimmons concludes by saying that the worst is yet to come, and the blazes will continue through the night with “no reprieve”.
“We’re going to have a long night ahead of us because this southerly is going to continue through, and those strong winds are not going to get to northern NSW until near midnight,” he says.
“Unfortunately there is no reprieve, there is no rainfall in this change.”
He adds that conditions will stay incredibly dangerous next week, and for the rest of the season.
“We’re expecting a cyclical pattern of increasing hot temperatures are we head into next week. It’s going to be a long difficult fire season, and we have got the worst of our conditions typically ahead of us.”
The next NSW update will be at 2pm AEDT.
Thankfully, there are still no new fires in the catastrophic warning areas, Shane Fitzsimmons says.
He says the weather forecast is “unfolding as was predicted”.
“The forecast indicated across the ranges, we’re going to be seeing average wind strengths across the ranges of 40 to 60km/h, gusting 70 to 90km/h throughout the afternoon.
“We’re already seeing winds up around that 40 to 50km/h and gusting over 70km/h. So they’ll continue to strengthen and build ahead of the passage of the cold front that’s moving across the state.
“And late on today, we’re expecting the southerly to start influencing and driving, a southerly buster up the coastal strip, and across the ranges and further inland.”
There are several hundreds of homes in these areas, he says, but many have already left early.
He says firefighters have been in the area, sharing advice and “guiding people about leaving and leaving early.”
For the Gulf Road fire, his message to Emmerville and Stanton is: “It’s too late to leave and they will need to seek shelter as the fire approaches.”
For the Hillville Road fire: “It’s getting closer to the Pacific Highway north of Nabiac, and the police and authorities are in the process of closing the Pacific Highway.”
Three fires are now at emergency warning, Shane Fitzsimmons says.
They are: the Thunderbolts Way fire (north of the Gloucester), the Gulf Road fire (south-west of Tenterfield), and the Hillville Road fire (south-west of Taree).
They are all existing fires in north-eastern NSW, which have been upgraded today.
The NSW RFS commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, is speaking again in Sydney now.
Moments earlier, the RFS sent out a second emergency warning for Gulf Road, Torrington.
“The fire has breached containment lines and is spreading quickly. If you are in Emmaville or Stannum, seek shelter. If you are in Deepwater, monitor conditions.”
At the same time, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is also giving a press conference.
A southerly change is heading up the coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
That has the potential to cause fires to change direction, adding more uncertainty and potential spread.
Port Macquarie resident Patrick Rudd says now is the time to talk about climate change, as fires edge closer to his hometown.Port Macquarie resident Patrick Rudd says now is the time to talk about climate change, as fires edge closer to his hometown.
The 15-year old high school student told AAP: “If now is not the time to talk about climate change, then when is?”The 15-year old high school student told AAP: “If now is not the time to talk about climate change, then when is?”
Rudd’s school was closed on Monday, and he said today that smoke was so thick in town “you can taste it”.Rudd’s school was closed on Monday, and he said today that smoke was so thick in town “you can taste it”.
“It’s definitely very scary,” he said. “And to see it affecting my town and me personally, it feels very threatening. It feels almost like our first look at what might lie ahead. If now is not the time to talk about climate change, then when is?“It’s definitely very scary,” he said. “And to see it affecting my town and me personally, it feels very threatening. It feels almost like our first look at what might lie ahead. If now is not the time to talk about climate change, then when is?
“It’s not the ‘greenies’ who are politicising [the bushfires], it’s actually the firefighters and emergency services.”“It’s not the ‘greenies’ who are politicising [the bushfires], it’s actually the firefighters and emergency services.”
Rudd was one of the local organisers of the most recent climate school strike for his school. Rudd was one of the local organisers of a climate strike at his school.
The first emergency warning today has just been issued. The first emergency warning of the day has just been issued.
A fire is burning and spreading quickly in the area of Thunderbolts Way and Nowendoc Road on the mid-north coast. A fire is burning and spreading quickly in the area of Thunderbolts Way and Nowendoc Road on the mid north coast of NSW.
“The fire is spreading quickly,” the RFS says. “If you are in the path of the fire, you are at risk.“The fire is spreading quickly,” the RFS says. “If you are in the path of the fire, you are at risk.
“If you are in the Nowendoc and Mount George area, you at risk. It is too late to leave.”“If you are in the Nowendoc and Mount George area, you at risk. It is too late to leave.”
Power outages have struck homes in Sydney’s north, according to AusGrid. Affected suburbs are: Ryde, Gladesville, Putney and Tennyson Point. Power outages have struck homes in Sydney’s north, according to AusGrid. The affected suburbs are Ryde, Gladesville, Putney and Tennyson Point.
It seems to be business as usual in the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba this morning.
Guardian Australia spoke to a number of business operators who said that everything was fairly calm along the main street despite the forecast catastrophic conditions. The cafes are full, and the historic local hotel, The Carrington, is bustling with guest services.
Tourists, however, may find their days plans derailed: the Blue Mountains City Council has warned the community to avoid entering bushland areas, including walking tracks, lookouts and similar, “given that any fire that starts will be uncontrollable and will spread quickly”. Campgrounds at Old Ford Reserve Megalong Valley, Blackheath Glen Megalong Valley, Mount York and Cathedral of Ferns Mt Wilson are closed, as is the Blue Mountains National Park until at least Thursday.
Temperatures are now above 30C in many parts of the state covered by the catastrophic danger warning.
In the Hunter, it is above 30C at: Cessnock Airport, Gosford, Lake Macquarie - Cooranbong, Maitland Airport, Mangrove Mountain, Merriwa and Williamtown.
In the Illawarra: Albion Park, Bellambi, Nowra and Jervis Bay Airfield.
In Sydney, it is above 30C at all current Bureau of Meteorology observation stations. It’s nearly 34C in Penrith and 30C at Sydney Harbour.
Northern Territoy firefighters have just announced that they will be travelling to Queensland today to help with the effort as well. The precise details to come.
A senior Queensland fire chief has said the state is struggling with a lack of resources, AAP reports.
Assistant commissioner of Qld Fire and Emergency Services, Tony Johnstone, told ABC Radio today that: “We’re having a problem with resources. We need to admit that.”
While he has 40 aircraft on stand-by, he said they needed more firefighters themselves.
“We’ve got significant aircraft for Queensland on stand-by to use. But aircraft don’t put fires out, aircraft help contain fires while firefighters get in.”
Queensland has called in firefighters from interstate and New Zealand.
The acting commissioner of QFES, Mike Wassing said: “This is a marathon for us with several sprints. We’ve been at this since August when the fire season normally starts.”
A NSW Ambulance spokesman also adds that since 5am, they have seen “a slightly elevated workload across the state.”
He says there were 31 instances of respiratory conditions – 17 within greater Sydney, 9 in the north of NSW and 5 in the south.
“One of those conditions was directly related to a patient who no longer had their asthma reliever medication with them.
“It is very, very important that we get this message out very clearly - to fail to make a plan if you have an asthma condition or respiratory condition and not have reliever medications, this could be a deadly condition for you.
“Make a plan and get medical aid as soon as possible.”
That concludes the 11am press conference.
Around the state, there is also “greater spread potential for many of our fires”, Fitzsimmons says.
This means that many of the predictions from last night of fire spread are being exceeded. Earlier we saw fires near Port Macquarie were growing.
“Across many of the 50 fires burning in north-east New South Wales, the predictions are generally showing a greater spread potential for the fires,” Fitzsimmons says. “That’s based on the conditions and the current fire behaviour.”
On the Gosper Mountain fire and the St Albans area, Fitzsimmons says: “You’re talking a very large bushfire, burning through forested country. You’re talking about relatively isolated settlements along and up the Putty Road, the communities of Mellong, and Howes Swamp.
“The decision now is to leave now. We know the fire is building. If you haven’t already done so, now is the safest time to go.”
“The edge of the fire that’s burning is being driven by the hot, dry winds coming down the ranges and influencing the fire behaviour.”
Shane Fitzsimmons is speaking in Sydney now.
The NSW RFS commissioner says: “We are certainly starting to see an increase in fire activity … Up north, we’ve got a couple of the fires particularly that are starting to develop.”
There are gusts exceeding 70km/h in many parts of the ranges.
Closer to Sydney, the Mount Gosper fire in the Hawkesbury is likely to impact the communities of Howes Swamp and Mellong. Later today it could spread to St Albans, Upper MacDonald and areas north of Wisemans Ferry.
The Sydney protest also heard a message from Sian, a schoolgirl on the north coast, who lost her home and said the fires were unlike anything we’ve seen before.
“The fire was unstoppable,” she said. “I’ve heard from those who stayed, of walls of flame 40 metres high. It was catastrophic.
“For many of us, this is where we have lived our entire lives. Our only home has been ravaged by a firestorm. This is not normal. Never have I heard of so many houses burning down in one night. Australia is on fire, we need desperate climate action.”
Fiona and her husband Aaron lost their family home – that they built themselves – on the north coast.
“For me there has never been a better time to talk about climate change,” Fiona said.
Aaron said the communication in fire-affected areas was poor. With power out and mobile towers affected, people weren’t able to get information about the fire situation around them.
“There are people now today whose lives are at risk, and we’re talking about thoughts and prayers.”
About 1,000 protesters gathered outside Sydney’s Parliament House on Macquarie Street for a hastily convened demonstration demanding urgent climate action this morning.
Protesters carried signs reading: “Scientists were wrong: it is much worse” and “If now is not the time to talk about the climate emergency, when the hell is?”
Simon Clough, the former deputy mayor of Lismore, said fires had threatened his property for weeks and remain burning on a ridge 5km from his house.
“I’m a country person, perhaps the leader of the National party would like to know that,” he said. “But I stand with you ‘loony lefties’ or whatever it is, because climate change is real. And we are experiencing it at this moment.”
Speeches were interrupted with cheers of “Up the Fireys” and sustained cheers for the Rural Fire Service.