This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/21/victoria-issued-code-red-bushfire-warning-amid-thunderstorm-asthma-threat
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Victoria issued code red bushfire warning amid thunderstorm asthma threat | Victoria issued code red bushfire warning amid thunderstorm asthma threat |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Temperatures to top 40C in state’s north as residents in South Australia, NSW and Tasmania all face worsening conditions | |
| Victoria is under a total fire ban on Thursday as temperatures top 40C in the state’s north, and thunderstorm asthma could also put lives at risk, while South Australian residents on the Yorke Peninsula brace for a wind change that could threaten homes and lives. | Victoria is under a total fire ban on Thursday as temperatures top 40C in the state’s north, and thunderstorm asthma could also put lives at risk, while South Australian residents on the Yorke Peninsula brace for a wind change that could threaten homes and lives. |
| Victorians facing code red bushfire conditions were told their houses were not built to withstand the conditions and they should get to major cities if they could. | Victorians facing code red bushfire conditions were told their houses were not built to withstand the conditions and they should get to major cities if they could. |
| Temperatures were forecast to stay well over 40C in the state’s north, and strong northerly winds put the Mallee and the Northern Country districts on a code red alert. | Temperatures were forecast to stay well over 40C in the state’s north, and strong northerly winds put the Mallee and the Northern Country districts on a code red alert. |
| Conditions would be milder in the rest of the state, but fire danger ratings were listed as severe or very high, while temperatures were close to all-time November highs, with Melbourne forecast at 39C on Thursday. | Conditions would be milder in the rest of the state, but fire danger ratings were listed as severe or very high, while temperatures were close to all-time November highs, with Melbourne forecast at 39C on Thursday. |
| A total fire ban was issued statewide, but the worst conditions were in the state’s north. | A total fire ban was issued statewide, but the worst conditions were in the state’s north. |
| Code red signals the worst possible bushfire conditions and the safest place to be was away from high-risk fire areas within those districts, the Country Fire Association advised. | Code red signals the worst possible bushfire conditions and the safest place to be was away from high-risk fire areas within those districts, the Country Fire Association advised. |
| “Our community members should be prepared for fire, and know where to get information to make good decisions about your safety,” the emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, said on Wednesday. | “Our community members should be prepared for fire, and know where to get information to make good decisions about your safety,” the emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, said on Wednesday. |
| “Given fires could start and move quickly, you won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire starts.” | “Given fires could start and move quickly, you won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire starts.” |
| On Thursday, Crisp also warned that a southerly change expected to hit Victoria in the afternoon could potentially make conditions more difficult for firefighters and there was a chance dry lightning could spark fires. | On Thursday, Crisp also warned that a southerly change expected to hit Victoria in the afternoon could potentially make conditions more difficult for firefighters and there was a chance dry lightning could spark fires. |
| All public parks in the code red areas would be closed, and some schools and early childhood centres would be closed. | All public parks in the code red areas would be closed, and some schools and early childhood centres would be closed. |
| “Homes are not built to withstand the types of fires we may see on a code red day and you don’t want to be caught travelling through areas on fire at the last minute if you wait and see,” the CFA chief officer Steve Warrington said. | “Homes are not built to withstand the types of fires we may see on a code red day and you don’t want to be caught travelling through areas on fire at the last minute if you wait and see,” the CFA chief officer Steve Warrington said. |
| Along with possible bushfires, the National Asthma Council Australia forecast Thursday’s pollen count in Victoria as “extreme”. | Along with possible bushfires, the National Asthma Council Australia forecast Thursday’s pollen count in Victoria as “extreme”. |
| The alert coincided with the third anniversary of the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, which claimed 10 lives on 21 November 2016. | The alert coincided with the third anniversary of the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, which claimed 10 lives on 21 November 2016. |
| “Today’s anniversary is a reminder that the risk is real. Any serious asthma attack can be life-threatening and have devastating consequences,” the National Asthma Council Australia chief executive, Siobhan Brophy, said. | “Today’s anniversary is a reminder that the risk is real. Any serious asthma attack can be life-threatening and have devastating consequences,” the National Asthma Council Australia chief executive, Siobhan Brophy, said. |
| “People do not need to be in the immediate area of a fire to suffer from the effect of smoke on their lungs. Wherever smoke haze is visible, it is a threat to those with asthma.” | “People do not need to be in the immediate area of a fire to suffer from the effect of smoke on their lungs. Wherever smoke haze is visible, it is a threat to those with asthma.” |
| Meanwhile, South Australia’s bushfire emergency had eased in some areas with authorities downgrading warnings on the worst of more than 40 fires across the state. | Meanwhile, South Australia’s bushfire emergency had eased in some areas with authorities downgrading warnings on the worst of more than 40 fires across the state. |
| However, residents in Price and Port Clinton on the upper Yorke Peninsula were urged to be on the alert for a wind change in the early hours of Thursday that could threaten homes and lives. | However, residents in Price and Port Clinton on the upper Yorke Peninsula were urged to be on the alert for a wind change in the early hours of Thursday that could threaten homes and lives. |
| In the most serious blaze on the peninsula, some houses and sheds were thought to have been lost to a fire that threatened the lives of about 1,000 people living in the Yorketown area. | In the most serious blaze on the peninsula, some houses and sheds were thought to have been lost to a fire that threatened the lives of about 1,000 people living in the Yorketown area. |
| The fire started close to homes on Wednesday as the state sweltered through catastrophic conditions, with soaring temperatures and high winds. | The fire started close to homes on Wednesday as the state sweltered through catastrophic conditions, with soaring temperatures and high winds. |
| The loss of property was yet to be confirmed but there were reports a number of houses had been destroyed. | The loss of property was yet to be confirmed but there were reports a number of houses had been destroyed. |
| There were no immediate reports of any injuries with the fire burning mostly in stubble. | There were no immediate reports of any injuries with the fire burning mostly in stubble. |
| Late on Wednesday, the Country Fire Service downgraded the alert for Yorketown from an emergency warning to a watch and act. | Late on Wednesday, the Country Fire Service downgraded the alert for Yorketown from an emergency warning to a watch and act. |
| But it said the blaze was yet to be contained as it burned on two fronts, in a westerly direction towards Port Moorowie and in an easterly direction towards Edithburgh, Coobowie and Port Giles. | But it said the blaze was yet to be contained as it burned on two fronts, in a westerly direction towards Port Moorowie and in an easterly direction towards Edithburgh, Coobowie and Port Giles. |
| A number of other fires across South Australia on Wednesday prompted emergency warnings, including a second blaze on Yorke Peninsula, two others north of Adelaide and one in the Barossa Valley. They were later downgraded. | A number of other fires across South Australia on Wednesday prompted emergency warnings, including a second blaze on Yorke Peninsula, two others north of Adelaide and one in the Barossa Valley. They were later downgraded. |
| A cool change was expected to sweep across the state by dawn but the CFS warned the dangerous conditions would linger. | A cool change was expected to sweep across the state by dawn but the CFS warned the dangerous conditions would linger. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology had a severe weather warning in place for potentially damaging winds across a wide area, including most of the York and Eyre peninsulas and the Adelaide Hills. | The Bureau of Meteorology had a severe weather warning in place for potentially damaging winds across a wide area, including most of the York and Eyre peninsulas and the Adelaide Hills. |
| It said wind gusts of up to 90km/h were possible as the cold front moved through. | It said wind gusts of up to 90km/h were possible as the cold front moved through. |
| In New South Wales, heavy smoke blanketed large parts of the state. People with breathing difficulties were advised to stay indoors, avoid exercise and use reliever medicine if appropriate. | In New South Wales, heavy smoke blanketed large parts of the state. People with breathing difficulties were advised to stay indoors, avoid exercise and use reliever medicine if appropriate. |
| Total fire bans were in force on Thursday for Illawarra/Shoalhaven, far south coast, Monaro Alpine, southern ranges, central ranges, northern slopes, north-western, southern slopes and the Riverina. | Total fire bans were in force on Thursday for Illawarra/Shoalhaven, far south coast, Monaro Alpine, southern ranges, central ranges, northern slopes, north-western, southern slopes and the Riverina. |
| On Wednesday evening there were 49 bush and grass fires burning across NSW with 25 uncontained. The NSW Rural Fire Service conducted backburning on Wednesday night to protect properties ahead of worsening fire conditions expected on Thursday. | On Wednesday evening there were 49 bush and grass fires burning across NSW with 25 uncontained. The NSW Rural Fire Service conducted backburning on Wednesday night to protect properties ahead of worsening fire conditions expected on Thursday. |