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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/15/nsw-fires-qld-bushfires-queensland-australia-new-south-wales-rural-fire-danger-weather-forecast-heat-evacuate
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| NSW and Qld fires: emergency bushfires warning for Hawkesbury on Sydney's fringe | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Fire danger rating in parts of NSW rises to severe as hot, dry, windy conditions end a brief reprieve of bushfire-hit areas of Australia | |
| The fire danger rating has risen to severe in parts of New South Wales as hot, dry and windy conditions return to bushfire-hit areas and a fresh emergency warning is issued for the Hawkesbury. | |
| A warning has been issued for a persistent 80,000-hectare blaze at Gospers Mountain, which is now burning in the direction of Colo Heights. Those in the town should leave now towards Wilberforce, the Rural Fire Service warned. | |
| More residents have also been told to leave their homes as Queensland faces another day of dangerous fire conditions. | |
| There are more than 60 blazes still burning across the state, with firefighters prepared for high temperatures and hot, dry westerly winds on Friday and into the weekend. | There are more than 60 blazes still burning across the state, with firefighters prepared for high temperatures and hot, dry westerly winds on Friday and into the weekend. |
| Leave now warnings are in place for residents of Woodgate and nearby Kinkuna Waters, south of Bundaberg. A third leave now warning has been issued for Thornside, west of Gympie. | Leave now warnings are in place for residents of Woodgate and nearby Kinkuna Waters, south of Bundaberg. A third leave now warning has been issued for Thornside, west of Gympie. |
| The Cobraball fire near Yeppoon in central Queensland continues to worry authorities given the difficult weather conditions expected in coming days. | The Cobraball fire near Yeppoon in central Queensland continues to worry authorities given the difficult weather conditions expected in coming days. |
| The blaze, which destroyed 15 of the 16 homes lost in Queensland over the past week, is 90% contained but that could change when high winds arrive. | The blaze, which destroyed 15 of the 16 homes lost in Queensland over the past week, is 90% contained but that could change when high winds arrive. |
| Damage assessments are continuing with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services saying the number of homes lost could rise. | Damage assessments are continuing with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services saying the number of homes lost could rise. |
| But QFES assistant commissioner Tony Johnstone says crews have done a remarkable job protecting property. | But QFES assistant commissioner Tony Johnstone says crews have done a remarkable job protecting property. |
| “It’s really hard to say how many houses we’ve saved but I’d say in excess of 300 or 400,” he told ABC radio. | “It’s really hard to say how many houses we’ve saved but I’d say in excess of 300 or 400,” he told ABC radio. |
| Temperatures to soar over weekend | Temperatures to soar over weekend |
| Temperatures near major fire grounds are expected to soar beyond 30C on Friday and into the weekend. | Temperatures near major fire grounds are expected to soar beyond 30C on Friday and into the weekend. |
| Almost all of Queensland is facing high or very high fire danger on Friday and there’s a chance of severe thunderstorms in the southeast that will produce little rain. | |
| The drought-stricken Darling Downs and Granite Belt region, west of Brisbane, is facing severe fire danger for at least the next three days. | The drought-stricken Darling Downs and Granite Belt region, west of Brisbane, is facing severe fire danger for at least the next three days. |
| Former QFES commissioner Lee Johnson is among 23 fire and emergency services leaders demanding urgent federal action to phase out fossil fuels that are driving climate change and elevating Australia’s bushfire risks. | Former QFES commissioner Lee Johnson is among 23 fire and emergency services leaders demanding urgent federal action to phase out fossil fuels that are driving climate change and elevating Australia’s bushfire risks. |
| He says cyclones and floods – not fires – have always been Queensland’s primary threats, but that’s changing. | He says cyclones and floods – not fires – have always been Queensland’s primary threats, but that’s changing. |
| “In my 40 years’ experience I don’t recall ever losing this amount of property at the start of a fire season, and it’s not over yet. Something has changed and it’s not good,” he told ABC radio on Friday. | “In my 40 years’ experience I don’t recall ever losing this amount of property at the start of a fire season, and it’s not over yet. Something has changed and it’s not good,” he told ABC radio on Friday. |
| Noosa mayor Tony Wellington says his constituents are angry and frustrated that a lack of action on climate change has left them facing unprecedented fire threats. | Noosa mayor Tony Wellington says his constituents are angry and frustrated that a lack of action on climate change has left them facing unprecedented fire threats. |
| He says councils need extra funding for dedicated disaster management staff. | He says councils need extra funding for dedicated disaster management staff. |
| “At the moment our local disaster controller is simply one of our key staff – one of our executive directors,” he told the ABC. | “At the moment our local disaster controller is simply one of our key staff – one of our executive directors,” he told the ABC. |
| “For the last two weeks in particular, but also over the last two months, they haven’t been able to carry on with their regular duties because they’re dealing with fire issues.” | “For the last two weeks in particular, but also over the last two months, they haven’t been able to carry on with their regular duties because they’re dealing with fire issues.” |
| NSW conditions worsen | NSW conditions worsen |
| Meanwhile, the fire danger rating in parts of NSW has risen to severe as hot, dry, windy conditions put an end to a brief reprieve for bushfire-hit areas of the state. | Meanwhile, the fire danger rating in parts of NSW has risen to severe as hot, dry, windy conditions put an end to a brief reprieve for bushfire-hit areas of the state. |
| The Rural Fire Service NSW on Friday morning confirmed more than 250 homes have been destroyed since Friday, with almost 90 damaged. Some 480 outbuildings and 18 facilities have also been razed. | The Rural Fire Service NSW on Friday morning confirmed more than 250 homes have been destroyed since Friday, with almost 90 damaged. Some 480 outbuildings and 18 facilities have also been razed. |
| While conditions eased following a “catastrophic” danger rating earlier in the week, the forecast of hot, dry weather once again poses a threat on Friday. | While conditions eased following a “catastrophic” danger rating earlier in the week, the forecast of hot, dry weather once again poses a threat on Friday. |
| A severe fire danger rating is in place for the far north coast, north coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and large parts of the state are under total fire bans. | A severe fire danger rating is in place for the far north coast, north coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and large parts of the state are under total fire bans. |
| RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Friday admitted authorities expected another tough day for fatigued NSW firefighters. | RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Friday admitted authorities expected another tough day for fatigued NSW firefighters. |
| “It’s going to be another very difficult day for people from the Hawkesbury right up to the mid-north coast, right up to the fires burning on the Queensland border. Unfortunately these strong winds, up to 60, 75km/h across the ranges, are really going to cause challenges,” Fitzsimmons told the Seven Network. | “It’s going to be another very difficult day for people from the Hawkesbury right up to the mid-north coast, right up to the fires burning on the Queensland border. Unfortunately these strong winds, up to 60, 75km/h across the ranges, are really going to cause challenges,” Fitzsimmons told the Seven Network. |
| The fire at Bora Ridge burning southeast of Casino flared to emergency level on Thursday but has since been downgraded to “watch and act” level. An additional four NSW blazes are at “watch and act”. | The fire at Bora Ridge burning southeast of Casino flared to emergency level on Thursday but has since been downgraded to “watch and act” level. An additional four NSW blazes are at “watch and act”. |
| More than 1,300 firefighters were battling some 60 bushfires on Thursday night, more than half of which were uncontained, the RFS said. | More than 1,300 firefighters were battling some 60 bushfires on Thursday night, more than half of which were uncontained, the RFS said. |
| But the RFS believes their efforts have saved more than 2,000 buildings. | But the RFS believes their efforts have saved more than 2,000 buildings. |
| “There’s fatigue alright, the physical fatigue, but these men and women, they’re so emotionally and mentally invested in just trying to save and protect their communities,” Fitzsimmons said. | “There’s fatigue alright, the physical fatigue, but these men and women, they’re so emotionally and mentally invested in just trying to save and protect their communities,” Fitzsimmons said. |
| As news broke that the death toll since Friday had risen to four, harrowing details emerged of the latest victim’s last hours. | As news broke that the death toll since Friday had risen to four, harrowing details emerged of the latest victim’s last hours. |
| Barry Parsons’ body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on Wednesday night. | Barry Parsons’ body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on Wednesday night. |
| His body was found five days after his last sighting and a final post on a Facebook page in the 58-year-old’s name described Friday’s horror conditions. | His body was found five days after his last sighting and a final post on a Facebook page in the 58-year-old’s name described Friday’s horror conditions. |
| “Seriously looks and sounds like apocolyse (sic) out there . F**ked up being on your own in these times,” Parsons’ post read. | “Seriously looks and sounds like apocolyse (sic) out there . F**ked up being on your own in these times,” Parsons’ post read. |
| Parsons had reportedly been living alone in a shed in the remote area. | Parsons had reportedly been living alone in a shed in the remote area. |
| News of his death follows that of Julie Fletcher, 63, who died in the town of Johns River, and Wytaliba locals Vivian Chaplain, 69, and George Nole. | News of his death follows that of Julie Fletcher, 63, who died in the town of Johns River, and Wytaliba locals Vivian Chaplain, 69, and George Nole. |
| About 60 schools will remain closed on Friday. | About 60 schools will remain closed on Friday. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia said insurers had received 730 claim applications, with initial losses totalling $80m. | The Insurance Council of Australia said insurers had received 730 claim applications, with initial losses totalling $80m. |