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Australia fires: Victoria issued code red bushfire warning amid thunderstorm asthma threat Australia fires: Victoria issued code red bushfire warning amid thunderstorm asthma threat
(about 3 hours later)
Temperatures to top 40C in state’s north as smoke haze blankets Sydney and residents in South Australia, NSW and Tasmania all face worsening conditionsTemperatures to top 40C in state’s north as smoke haze blankets Sydney and 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 was under a total fire ban on Thursday as temperatures were expected to top 40C in the state’s north, and forecast thunderstorm asthma was putting lives at risk. Meanwhile, early reports of the Yorketown fire in South Australia suggested several homes had been lost, along with sheds and other property.
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.
There was also a severe weather warning for damaging winds for most of the state.
Melbourne could mark one of its hottest November days on record with 39C, while the city fell just short of the hottest November night since 1901 at 26C – just 0.2C off.
But not everyone has got the message about the fire danger. A 43-year-old man was expected be charged on summons after allegedly lighting a fire to clear timber and rubbish at 10pm on Wednesday.
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 will be closed, and more than 200 schools and early learning childhood centres were closed across the state.
“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.
Thousands of properties were also without power across Victoria. Powercor, a service provider, had extra crews working on Thursday to tackle the 5,400 power outages as at 9.50am with the majority due to winds across the state’s west.
“These strong winds can bring down power lines, if people do see them they are encouraged to stay far way from them and report them to us or to their network,” a spokeswoman 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. In South Australia, the rapid spread of a dangerous bushfire has been halted on the Yorke Peninsula but authorities warned the blaze was yet to be contained.
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. The stubble fire threatened the towns of Edithburgh, Coobowie and Wool Bay early on Thursday as it burnt towards the coast, fanned by strong southwesterly winds.
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. An emergency warning was put in place, but later downgraded to a watch and act as fire crews managed to establish a control line.
The fire started close to homes on Wednesday as the state sweltered through catastrophic conditions, with soaring temperatures and high winds. “The fire is not yet contained, but under current weather conditions, it is no longer rapidly expanding,” the Country Fire Service said.
The loss of property was yet to be confirmed but there were reports a number of houses had been destroyed. Patches of fire remain burning and smoke and dust was expected to remain a hazard, with firefighters remaining throughout the day to respond to any outbreaks, it said.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries with the fire burning mostly in stubble. At the height of the emergency, Yorke Peninsula Council Mayor Darren Braund said many residents had taken shelter overnight in the Edithburgh Town Hall but had been told to leave.
Late on Wednesday, the Country Fire Service downgraded the alert for Yorketown from an emergency warning to a watch and act. “People are very worried, a lot of anxious people, hoping their properties are OK,” Mr Braund told the Adelaide Advertiser.
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. “There were warnings throughout the night from Country Fire Service, all of a sudden the wind changed.
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. “From what I understand, the fire jumped containment lines that’s when it got very dangerous.”
A cool change was expected to sweep across the state by dawn but the CFS warned the dangerous conditions would linger. The blaze and the shifting weather also pushed large amounts of smoke over Adelaide which was blanketed by a thick haze until mid-morning on Thursday. SA Health said the smoke posed a risk to people, especially those with pre-existing heart and chest conditions.
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 Yorketown fire was one of more than 40 which broke out across SA on Wednesday amid catastrophic conditions with soaring temperatures and high winds.
It said wind gusts of up to 90km/h were possible as the cold front moved through. A cool change moved across SA early on Thursday dropping temperatures into the mid-20s but also brought the wind change which caused issues for firefighters who had battled through the night to protect local properties.
In the Yorketown fire, early reports suggested several homes had been lost along with sheds and other property. There have been no reports of any injuries.
“At this point in time we don’t have accurate figures in relation to structure losses,” South Australia’s commissioner of police, Grant Stevens, said. “We do believe there are 11 properties that have been affected. But the rapid damage assessment teams are moving into the fire ground now.”
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.
The Tasmanian Fire Service has also imposed a total fire ban for much of that state on Thursday due to forecast hot and windy conditions. The affected areas include Hobart, Launceston, the Derwent Valley, Northern Midlands, Southern Midlands, Flinders and George Town.
The fire danger in the large areas of the south and east of Tasmania on Thursday will be severe.