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NSW fires: koalas in Blue Mountains rescued as bushfires approach – as it happened Koalas in Blue Mountains rescued as blazes approach – as it happened
(about 7 hours 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 updatesSevere 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
We will leave our live coverage of the bushfire crisis there.We will leave our live coverage of the bushfire crisis there.
There is a statewide total fire ban in place for NSW from midnight tonight, as well as total fire bans in the Wimmera district of Victoria and parts of South Australia.There is a statewide total fire ban in place for NSW from midnight tonight, as well as total fire bans in the Wimmera district of Victoria and parts of South Australia.
The heatwave, which saw temperatures reach 46.5C in Ceduna and above 40C in Adelaide today, will continue in South Australia and stretch across to Victoria tomorrow.The heatwave, which saw temperatures reach 46.5C in Ceduna and above 40C in Adelaide today, will continue in South Australia and stretch across to Victoria tomorrow.
It’s forecast to reach 39.5C in Melbourne on Wednesday and 44C in Mildura. Sydney won’t get really hot until Thursday, but there will be thick smoke around all morning.It’s forecast to reach 39.5C in Melbourne on Wednesday and 44C in Mildura. Sydney won’t get really hot until Thursday, but there will be thick smoke around all morning.
Stay safe, stay hydrated, and don’t go jogging in the smoke. We’ll see you tomorrow.Stay safe, stay hydrated, and don’t go jogging in the smoke. We’ll see you tomorrow.
This is how the rescue operation for those koalas at Kanangra-Boyd National Park was carried out.This is how the rescue operation for those koalas at Kanangra-Boyd National Park was carried out.
The heatwave that began in Western Australia last week has reached Adelaide, and temperatures have exceeded 40C in much of the state – including Adelaide – with a high of 45.5C in Ceduna.The heatwave that began in Western Australia last week has reached Adelaide, and temperatures have exceeded 40C in much of the state – including Adelaide – with a high of 45.5C in Ceduna.
The Gospers Mountain megafire is continuing to burn in Wollemi national park in the Blue Mountains, but is being controlled. It remains active on both sides of Bells Line of Road and fire is increasing in Berambing, but has eased near Wallerawang, Lidsdale and Blackmans Flat.The Gospers Mountain megafire is continuing to burn in Wollemi national park in the Blue Mountains, but is being controlled. It remains active on both sides of Bells Line of Road and fire is increasing in Berambing, but has eased near Wallerawang, Lidsdale and Blackmans Flat.
There will be a community meeting about the Gospers Mountain fire at Grose View public school at 7.30 tonight, and a bushfire information point will be open at Cullen Bullen rural fire station between 4pm and 5pm.There will be a community meeting about the Gospers Mountain fire at Grose View public school at 7.30 tonight, and a bushfire information point will be open at Cullen Bullen rural fire station between 4pm and 5pm.
Watch and act alerts remain in place for the Gregory River fire and Mount Maria fire in Queensland. The communities of Promisedland and Pine Creek near the Cordalba state forest, and Lowmead near Lake Monduran, have been told to evacuate.Watch and act alerts remain in place for the Gregory River fire and Mount Maria fire in Queensland. The communities of Promisedland and Pine Creek near the Cordalba state forest, and Lowmead near Lake Monduran, have been told to evacuate.
New South Wales is about to go into a four-day statewide total fire ban, which will coincide with the heatwave.New South Wales is about to go into a four-day statewide total fire ban, which will coincide with the heatwave.
In a stark reminder that the effects of bushfires often extend many years after the fire has been put out, 445 people who were affected by the 2013 Dunalley bushfires in Tasmania have launched a class action against those they allege were responsible for the fire.In a stark reminder that the effects of bushfires often extend many years after the fire has been put out, 445 people who were affected by the 2013 Dunalley bushfires in Tasmania have launched a class action against those they allege were responsible for the fire.
The Dunalley fire destroyed 193 homes and 186 other properties, including the Dunalley school and police station. The cost of the fire is estimated to be more than $100m. A terrifying photograph of one family sheltering from the flames under a jetty was the subject of one of Guardian Australia’s first reports.The Dunalley fire destroyed 193 homes and 186 other properties, including the Dunalley school and police station. The cost of the fire is estimated to be more than $100m. A terrifying photograph of one family sheltering from the flames under a jetty was the subject of one of Guardian Australia’s first reports.
AAP reports that legal papers for the class action were lodged with the supreme court of Hobart, alleging that a man and a woman were negligent in lighting or failing to properly put out a campfire which later flared and burned through 25,000 hectares.AAP reports that legal papers for the class action were lodged with the supreme court of Hobart, alleging that a man and a woman were negligent in lighting or failing to properly put out a campfire which later flared and burned through 25,000 hectares.
They claim that a campfire was lit in a tree stump at a property in Forcett, 20km north-east of Dunalley, on 12 December 2013. It is alleged dirt was kicked on to the stump and two half-buckets of water poured on the fire, with the belief it had been extinguished.They claim that a campfire was lit in a tree stump at a property in Forcett, 20km north-east of Dunalley, on 12 December 2013. It is alleged dirt was kicked on to the stump and two half-buckets of water poured on the fire, with the belief it had been extinguished.
The woman on 1 January saw steam coming from stump after rain but did not take any steps to investigate, it is also claimed. Two days later, in hot, dry and windy weather and when the fire danger was very high to severe, the smouldering fire spread to grass and then into bushland.The woman on 1 January saw steam coming from stump after rain but did not take any steps to investigate, it is also claimed. Two days later, in hot, dry and windy weather and when the fire danger was very high to severe, the smouldering fire spread to grass and then into bushland.
The class action claims the man and woman ought to have known when they lit the campfire in December there was a risk of fire spreading over a wide area.The class action claims the man and woman ought to have known when they lit the campfire in December there was a risk of fire spreading over a wide area.
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.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 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.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.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.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.