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| NSW fires: premier says despite 'tragic' bushfires toll, firefighters have enough resources – live | NSW fires: premier says despite 'tragic' bushfires toll, firefighters have enough resources – live |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Severe to extreme heatwave is sweeping across Australia as firefighters continue to battle multiple bushfires in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. Follow all the latest updates | Severe to extreme heatwave is sweeping across Australia as firefighters continue to battle multiple bushfires in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. Follow all the latest updates |
| A rescue operation is under way to protect a significant wild koala population in the Kanangra-Boyd national park in the Blue Mountains from the threat of bushfire and extreme heat. | |
| The Kanangra-Boyd koalas are directly in the path of a 140,000-hectare bushfire. They’re also one of the most genetically diverse wild koala populations in the country and, crucially, one of only two chlamydia-free wild koala populations in NSW. | |
| The organisation Science for Wildlife and the Taronga Wildlife hospital have rescued a small group – three adult males and five adult females, four of which have joeys – and taken them to the wildlife hospital until it is safe to release them to the wild. | |
| It is one of five areas of significant koala population under threat from the Blue Mountains fires including the Gospers Mountain megafire, Science for Wildlife’s director, Dr Kellie Leigh, said. | |
| Koalas are a threatened species and are vulnerable to extinction in many parts of their range due to habitat loss, Leigh says. | |
| It’s just reached 40C in Adelaide. | It’s just reached 40C in Adelaide. |
| On that topic, Victoria is set to cop the heat tomorrow. Melbourne is forecast to reach 39C. | On that topic, Victoria is set to cop the heat tomorrow. Melbourne is forecast to reach 39C. |
| A heat health alert has also been issued for the north of the state. Bendigo is set to hit 42C, and Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura will reach between 43C-45C. | A heat health alert has also been issued for the north of the state. Bendigo is set to hit 42C, and Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura will reach between 43C-45C. |
| Today it’s already 36.4C in Mildura, 34.4C in Shepparton, 33.5C in Albury, and 30.1C at Melbourne airport. | Today it’s already 36.4C in Mildura, 34.4C in Shepparton, 33.5C in Albury, and 30.1C at Melbourne airport. |
| For eastern states the heatwave will be worse at the end of the week, posing a concern for athletes at the weekend. There’s an important discussion to be had here, reminiscent of the haze in Sydney that shrouded a Sheffield Shield cricket match last week. | For eastern states the heatwave will be worse at the end of the week, posing a concern for athletes at the weekend. There’s an important discussion to be had here, reminiscent of the haze in Sydney that shrouded a Sheffield Shield cricket match last week. |
| At the time, New South Wales spinner Steve O’Keefe said the air was “not healthy” and “toxic”, and said Cricket Australia needed to look at its air quality policy. | At the time, New South Wales spinner Steve O’Keefe said the air was “not healthy” and “toxic”, and said Cricket Australia needed to look at its air quality policy. |
| At Sydney’s Wynyard station, the Red Cross and the City of Sydney have installed a dramatic burnt Christmas tree. | At Sydney’s Wynyard station, the Red Cross and the City of Sydney have installed a dramatic burnt Christmas tree. |
| Created from wood from fire-hit areas, it is part of a charity drive to collect Christmas donations for those affected. | Created from wood from fire-hit areas, it is part of a charity drive to collect Christmas donations for those affected. |
| In NSW, it’s 37.9C in Bourke and 35.8C in Mildura. It’s 30.5C in Canberra. | In NSW, it’s 37.9C in Bourke and 35.8C in Mildura. It’s 30.5C in Canberra. |
| The latest Bureau of Meteorology observations: it is 39.5C in Adelaide’s city centre, and the forecast is for 40C. | The latest Bureau of Meteorology observations: it is 39.5C in Adelaide’s city centre, and the forecast is for 40C. |
| It’s 42.1C in Port Augusta, and 44.5C in Ceduna. | It’s 42.1C in Port Augusta, and 44.5C in Ceduna. |
| Residents along Tableland and Cross roads are being told to prepare to leave with the Mount Maria bushfire at watch and act level. | Residents along Tableland and Cross roads are being told to prepare to leave with the Mount Maria bushfire at watch and act level. |
| The fire is burning in the vicinity of Cross, Hills, Wytallabah and Kirkpatrick roads but no properties are under threat. But Queensland fire and emergency warns the situation could change quickly. | The fire is burning in the vicinity of Cross, Hills, Wytallabah and Kirkpatrick roads but no properties are under threat. But Queensland fire and emergency warns the situation could change quickly. |
| NSW RFS reports an increase in fire activity for the massive Gospers Mountain fire near Bells Line of Road and Mount Wilson Road but no properties are under threat. | NSW RFS reports an increase in fire activity for the massive Gospers Mountain fire near Bells Line of Road and Mount Wilson Road but no properties are under threat. |
| There are reports that the heatwave and fires are resulting in a number of Christmas events being cancelled.The rural fire brigade for my home town of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, for example, has cancelled taking Santa to some parts of the town because of the predicted high fire situation. | There are reports that the heatwave and fires are resulting in a number of Christmas events being cancelled.The rural fire brigade for my home town of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, for example, has cancelled taking Santa to some parts of the town because of the predicted high fire situation. |
| AAP reports that NSW Health has warned that if you see bats and flying foxes in distress over summer, don’t touch them:People should avoid rescuing distressed bats and flying foxes during mass die-offs over the summer. | AAP reports that NSW Health has warned that if you see bats and flying foxes in distress over summer, don’t touch them:People should avoid rescuing distressed bats and flying foxes during mass die-offs over the summer. |
| NSW Health’s zoonotic disease manager, Keira Glasgow, says humans could catch a rabies-like infection while trying to rescue dying animals. | NSW Health’s zoonotic disease manager, Keira Glasgow, says humans could catch a rabies-like infection while trying to rescue dying animals. |
| “Most people scratched or bitten by a bat have been trying to rescue them – it is essential that people do not touch bats to avoid being infected,” she said on Tuesday. | “Most people scratched or bitten by a bat have been trying to rescue them – it is essential that people do not touch bats to avoid being infected,” she said on Tuesday. |
| “While human infection is very rare, if not prevented lyssavirus progresses to a rabies-like illness which is almost always fatal.” | “While human infection is very rare, if not prevented lyssavirus progresses to a rabies-like illness which is almost always fatal.” |
| Large numbers of bat deaths are associated with heatwaves or a lack of food. NSW Health says the cause of current deaths isn’t known but they were likely to continue over summer. | Large numbers of bat deaths are associated with heatwaves or a lack of food. NSW Health says the cause of current deaths isn’t known but they were likely to continue over summer. |
| Three people have died from Australian bat lyssavirus since 1996. | Three people have died from Australian bat lyssavirus since 1996. |
| If people are bitten they should clean the wound with soap and water for at least five minutes before applying antiseptic and seeking medical advice, NSW Health says. | If people are bitten they should clean the wound with soap and water for at least five minutes before applying antiseptic and seeking medical advice, NSW Health says. |
| Don’t use drones near fires. We’ve seen a few of these warnings in the past few weeks but it bears repeating. Fire and Rescue NSW’s chief remote pilot, Anthony Wallgate, said in a Faebook post that firefighters increasingly rely on drones to collect data and monitor fires when the public uses drones it can make it dangerous for everyone. | Don’t use drones near fires. We’ve seen a few of these warnings in the past few weeks but it bears repeating. Fire and Rescue NSW’s chief remote pilot, Anthony Wallgate, said in a Faebook post that firefighters increasingly rely on drones to collect data and monitor fires when the public uses drones it can make it dangerous for everyone. |
| “If members of the public fly drones in or near a fire area, then we can’t do our job,” he said. “Fixed-wing and rotary aircraft can’t fly and are unable to fight the fires as we are forced to ground all aircraft for safety reasons.” | “If members of the public fly drones in or near a fire area, then we can’t do our job,” he said. “Fixed-wing and rotary aircraft can’t fly and are unable to fight the fires as we are forced to ground all aircraft for safety reasons.” |
| Residents in Promisedland and Pine Creek are being told to prepare to leave. The fire in Elliott River state forest is at watch and act level. The fronts of the fire are travelling in a north and north-westerly direction. | Residents in Promisedland and Pine Creek are being told to prepare to leave. The fire in Elliott River state forest is at watch and act level. The fronts of the fire are travelling in a north and north-westerly direction. |
| Timed without irony, the federal resources minister, Matt Canavan, has sent out a press release on the “strong international demand for Australian coal”. | Timed without irony, the federal resources minister, Matt Canavan, has sent out a press release on the “strong international demand for Australian coal”. |
| It goes into great detail about the government’s plans to wind down its coal production for the sake of the planet, as recommended by world-leading scientists ... no, it doesn’t. | It goes into great detail about the government’s plans to wind down its coal production for the sake of the planet, as recommended by world-leading scientists ... no, it doesn’t. |
| Canavan is drawing our attention to a report by the International Energy Agency which he says has forecast coal will remain “an important part of the global energy mix” after being the source of 38% of the world’s electricity in 2018. | Canavan is drawing our attention to a report by the International Energy Agency which he says has forecast coal will remain “an important part of the global energy mix” after being the source of 38% of the world’s electricity in 2018. |
| “The IEA report shows Australia is well placed to take advantage of the shifts in international demand, and to supply markets in south-east Asia and India as new coal-based electricity generation comes on line over the coming years,” he said. | “The IEA report shows Australia is well placed to take advantage of the shifts in international demand, and to supply markets in south-east Asia and India as new coal-based electricity generation comes on line over the coming years,” he said. |
| “For the sake of Aussie jobs and our dynamic regional communities we need to grasp the opportunities that coal presents, both here and overseas.” | “For the sake of Aussie jobs and our dynamic regional communities we need to grasp the opportunities that coal presents, both here and overseas.” |
| Some more information on those Queensland fires from AAP: | Some more information on those Queensland fires from AAP: |
| Two communities in south-east Queensland have been told to get ready to leave as two dangerous bushfires rage north of Bundaberg. | Two communities in south-east Queensland have been told to get ready to leave as two dangerous bushfires rage north of Bundaberg. |
| The residents of Mount Maria, about 75km north of Bundaberg, have been warned to be prepared as the fire burns close to homes on the eastern side of the town. | The residents of Mount Maria, about 75km north of Bundaberg, have been warned to be prepared as the fire burns close to homes on the eastern side of the town. |
| The fire was at watch and act level this morning. | The fire was at watch and act level this morning. |
| Another at Promisedland and Pine Creek was also at watch and act and residents have been told to prepare to leave ahead of a fire burning in the Elliott River state forest. | Another at Promisedland and Pine Creek was also at watch and act and residents have been told to prepare to leave ahead of a fire burning in the Elliott River state forest. |
| The leave now warning was also issued for Gregory River (north of Childers) yesterday. | The leave now warning was also issued for Gregory River (north of Childers) yesterday. |
| Queensland police have increased the size of an exclusion area in the region. The area is now bound by Cedars Road, the Burnett River, Onoprienkos Road and Newlands Road. | Queensland police have increased the size of an exclusion area in the region. The area is now bound by Cedars Road, the Burnett River, Onoprienkos Road and Newlands Road. |
| Childers Road is closed in both directions. | Childers Road is closed in both directions. |
| The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says bushfires have already taken a “tragic” toll on the state, AAP reports, but she feels current resourcing is meeting the state’s needs. | The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says bushfires have already taken a “tragic” toll on the state, AAP reports, but she feels current resourcing is meeting the state’s needs. |
| “When you have extreme fire fronts this large, people have to make decisions about what to protect, where to put priorities, where to put resources and I have every confidence that our teams are doing an exceptional job,” Berejiklian said today. | “When you have extreme fire fronts this large, people have to make decisions about what to protect, where to put priorities, where to put resources and I have every confidence that our teams are doing an exceptional job,” Berejiklian said today. |
| “If you look at how bad the fires have been and how widespread they’ve been, it’s pretty much a miracle the lives lost haven’t been more, and I’m deeply grateful for that.” | “If you look at how bad the fires have been and how widespread they’ve been, it’s pretty much a miracle the lives lost haven’t been more, and I’m deeply grateful for that.” |
| She said NSW was resourced to meet the crisis: “I feel at this stage that our resourcing is meeting needs.” | She said NSW was resourced to meet the crisis: “I feel at this stage that our resourcing is meeting needs.” |
| Six people have died so far this season and more than 720 homes have been lost. | Six people have died so far this season and more than 720 homes have been lost. |
| The NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers, says firefighters will not be able to contain every blaze before conditions deteriorate. | The NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers, says firefighters will not be able to contain every blaze before conditions deteriorate. |
| “While we’re very concerned about the Gospers Mountain fire, there are more than 100 fires burning throughout the state,” he said. “Anyone of them could cause problems over ensuing days.” | “While we’re very concerned about the Gospers Mountain fire, there are more than 100 fires burning throughout the state,” he said. “Anyone of them could cause problems over ensuing days.” |