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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/nov/13/nsw-fires-qld-bushfires-queensland-australia-new-south-wales-rural-fire-live-news-latest-updates-queensland
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| NSW and Queensland fires updates: worst of bushfires season 'still ahead', says fire chief – live | NSW and Queensland fires updates: worst of bushfires season 'still ahead', says fire chief – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Catastrophic fire conditions in New South Wales ease, but dozens of Australian bushfires remain burning. In Queensland, 60 fires are burning, with strong winds and temperatures in mid-30s forecast to make for hazardous conditions on Australia’s east coast | Catastrophic fire conditions in New South Wales ease, but dozens of Australian bushfires remain burning. In Queensland, 60 fires are burning, with strong winds and temperatures in mid-30s forecast to make for hazardous conditions on Australia’s east coast |
| Incredible pictures here of the smoke from the beach at Noosa North Shore | |
| A nervous few hours for residents and firefighters in Hillville, just outside of Taree. | |
| Homes have already been lost in the suburb and on Wednesday morning winds picked up and began pushing the fire in a north-westerly direction. We watched as one family fought desperately to stop spot fires making their way up the hill towards their home. | |
| No sooner did it look like the blaze was under control, when an ember would spark somewhere else in the dry paddocks. Two helicopters dropped water on homes as a fire crew tried to stop the blaze in its tracks. | |
| Everyone here is nervous, it seems. Tuesday’s catastrophic conditions may have passed, but they know they are not out of the woods yet. | |
| The Noosa North Shore fire has worsened, and there is now an emergency warning and a “leave immediately” warning in place. | |
| Previously, the fire was at “leave now”. | |
| “Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive,” says QFES. “An unpredictable fire is burning on Noosa North Shore near the First Cutting. | |
| “People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street. An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive. | |
| “Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing. The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.” | |
| People in Walkers Point south of Bundaberg are being told to evacuate. | |
| A fast-moving bushfire is burning near Woodgate Road and Woppis Road, burning towards Walkers Point Road and conditions are getting worse. | |
| Those in the Woodgate township are not yet required to evacuate at this time, but QFES says that “if you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave now if it is clear to do so”. | |
| Those in the Walkers Point area should evacuate via Walkers Point Road, towards Woodgate Bowls Club, Kangaroo Court. | |
| Just breaking now – an exclusive story from my colleague Anne Davies. | |
| Yesterday, as bushfires raged, a meeting of NSW bureaucrats were directly told in an email to “not discuss the links between climate change and bushfires”. | |
| The bureaucrats were at a conference about adapting to climate change. | |
| “For those attending AdaptNSW today, public affairs has issued advice not to discuss the link between climate change and bushfires,” the email said. | |
| Read the full story here: | |
| Queensland authorities have updated their advice on the fire heading towards Noosa North Shore and say conditions are unpredictable, “very dangerous” and that firefighters might not be able to stop its advance. | Queensland authorities have updated their advice on the fire heading towards Noosa North Shore and say conditions are unpredictable, “very dangerous” and that firefighters might not be able to stop its advance. |
| The fire is burning on Noosa North Shore, near the beach at First Cutting. | The fire is burning on Noosa North Shore, near the beach at First Cutting. |
| It may soon head towards Wallaby Track. Residents are advised to leave immediately. | It may soon head towards Wallaby Track. Residents are advised to leave immediately. |
| “The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.” | “The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.” |
| The evacuation centre is at the Noosa Leisure Centre, on Wallace Drive. | The evacuation centre is at the Noosa Leisure Centre, on Wallace Drive. |
| Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has issued another leave now advisory, this time for a bushfire at Kilkivan, near Gympie. | Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has issued another leave now advisory, this time for a bushfire at Kilkivan, near Gympie. |
| “Currently as at 11.30am Wednesday, 13 November, a large fire is burning in the vicinity of the Des Simpson Memorial, heading in a south-westerly direction towards Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road. | “Currently as at 11.30am Wednesday, 13 November, a large fire is burning in the vicinity of the Des Simpson Memorial, heading in a south-westerly direction towards Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road. |
| “The fire is likely to impact Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road within 30 minutes. The fire could have a significant impact on the community. | “The fire is likely to impact Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road within 30 minutes. The fire could have a significant impact on the community. |
| “Those residents looking to self-evacuate should travel along Thornside Road onto Upper Widgee Road heading towards Gympie.” | “Those residents looking to self-evacuate should travel along Thornside Road onto Upper Widgee Road heading towards Gympie.” |
| Some new images from Queensland yesterday, from photographer Cam Neville in Tarome and Lower Beechmont. | Some new images from Queensland yesterday, from photographer Cam Neville in Tarome and Lower Beechmont. |
| There is severe fire danger across the southern part of Queensland today, with hot, dry and windy conditions. | There is severe fire danger across the southern part of Queensland today, with hot, dry and windy conditions. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology’s Victoria Dodds says a predicted wind change is adding “real complexity to the forecast, and it will make conditions really challenging for our firefighters on the ground”. | The Bureau of Meteorology’s Victoria Dodds says a predicted wind change is adding “real complexity to the forecast, and it will make conditions really challenging for our firefighters on the ground”. |
| “We’ve got a south-westerly change – a cold front that’s moving in – and we’ve also got a south-easterly change. | “We’ve got a south-westerly change – a cold front that’s moving in – and we’ve also got a south-easterly change. |
| “There’s a bit of a battle of air masses at the moment. With that south-westerly and the south-easterlies, where that air comes together, there is the potential for some thunderstorms to form this afternoon. | “There’s a bit of a battle of air masses at the moment. With that south-westerly and the south-easterlies, where that air comes together, there is the potential for some thunderstorms to form this afternoon. |
| “The air is really, really dry, so we’re not going to see any significant rainfall with these thunderstorms, but there’s definitely the potential for some lightning.” | “The air is really, really dry, so we’re not going to see any significant rainfall with these thunderstorms, but there’s definitely the potential for some lightning.” |
| The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is providing an update on bushfires and confirms 14 homes have been lost in the state. | The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is providing an update on bushfires and confirms 14 homes have been lost in the state. |
| The main areas of concern are in the Scenic Rim area and near Noosa, where people are being asked to leave. | The main areas of concern are in the Scenic Rim area and near Noosa, where people are being asked to leave. |
| “Now is not the time to be complacent, the conditions are of concern to us,” Palaszczuk said. | “Now is not the time to be complacent, the conditions are of concern to us,” Palaszczuk said. |
| The premier said reinforcements were arriving from Tasmania today to assist with the firefighting effort, joining New Zealanders who arrived yesterday. | The premier said reinforcements were arriving from Tasmania today to assist with the firefighting effort, joining New Zealanders who arrived yesterday. |
| More than $40m in estimated insured losses have been claimed following the NSW bushfires, with plenty more to come, according to the industry’s national peak body, AAP reports. | More than $40m in estimated insured losses have been claimed following the NSW bushfires, with plenty more to come, according to the industry’s national peak body, AAP reports. |
| Insurance Council Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said more than 360 claims had been made from catastrophe areas, including 80 properties that could be total losses. | Insurance Council Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said more than 360 claims had been made from catastrophe areas, including 80 properties that could be total losses. |
| Fuller said the catastrophe declaration made by the ICA on Saturday meant every claim would be prioritised by insurers. Fuller advised policyholders affected by the bushfires to contact their insurers as soon as possible, even if the extent of damage was yet to be determined. | Fuller said the catastrophe declaration made by the ICA on Saturday meant every claim would be prioritised by insurers. Fuller advised policyholders affected by the bushfires to contact their insurers as soon as possible, even if the extent of damage was yet to be determined. |
| “If they know their home has been badly damaged, then the insurer is made aware of it and can work out how best to help them, because that’s what insurers try to do – lower or reduce the financial, physical and emotional distress that these property owners have experienced,” he said. | “If they know their home has been badly damaged, then the insurer is made aware of it and can work out how best to help them, because that’s what insurers try to do – lower or reduce the financial, physical and emotional distress that these property owners have experienced,” he said. |
| Footage of residents leaving Noosa here: | Footage of residents leaving Noosa here: |
| And photos of the fire: | And photos of the fire: |
| A leave now alert has been issued for Noosa North Shore, near Beach Road and the First Cutting, 10km from Noosaville. | A leave now alert has been issued for Noosa North Shore, near Beach Road and the First Cutting, 10km from Noosaville. |
| “The fire may impact the Wallaby Track soon so residents are advised to leave now, the QFES says. “This fire could have a significant impact on the community.” | “The fire may impact the Wallaby Track soon so residents are advised to leave now, the QFES says. “This fire could have a significant impact on the community.” |
| “People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street.” | “People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street.” |
| Previously, two fires were burning in the area, and have now been combined into one alert. They were at watch and act and advice previously. | Previously, two fires were burning in the area, and have now been combined into one alert. They were at watch and act and advice previously. |
| “Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave now if it is clear to do so. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous. | “Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave now if it is clear to do so. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous. |
| “An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive. | “An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive. |
| “Ground crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water and mobile phone service may be lost.” | “Ground crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water and mobile phone service may be lost.” |
| Something from Sydney: a major exhibition of the art of Banksy will be closing abruptly from today – due to heatwave concerns over the next few weeks. | Something from Sydney: a major exhibition of the art of Banksy will be closing abruptly from today – due to heatwave concerns over the next few weeks. |
| It was above 35C in Sydney yesterday, and in a statement, the exhibition said “the collection of artworks on display in the exhibition’s temporary marquee structure have to be very carefully climate-controlled”. | It was above 35C in Sydney yesterday, and in a statement, the exhibition said “the collection of artworks on display in the exhibition’s temporary marquee structure have to be very carefully climate-controlled”. |
| “This can no longer be guaranteed due to the heatwave, which is forecast to continue over the coming weeks.” | “This can no longer be guaranteed due to the heatwave, which is forecast to continue over the coming weeks.” |
| The exhibition was scheduled to run until Sunday 1 December, but will close now. | The exhibition was scheduled to run until Sunday 1 December, but will close now. |