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South Australia fires: firefighters injured as NSW and Qld face extreme bushfires risk – live Australia fires: NSW, Victoria, SA, Qld and WA all face extreme bushfires risk – live
(32 minutes later)
Catastrophic bushfire conditions expected for several SA regions, Queensland faces severe fire danger and Melbourne weather forecast for hottest ever December day, as Morrison says he ‘deeply regrets any offence caused’ by holiday. Follow the latest news and updates Melbourne shrouded in smoke haze from bushfires, catastrophic fire danger forecast for parts of New South Wales, including Greater Sydney, and almost 70 fires rage across Queensland. Follow the latest news and updates
The out-of-control fire burning in the Adelaide Hills is unlikely to be contained soon, according to the state’s fire service.
Country Fire Service chief Mark Jones said crews were battling thick smoke as the fire continued to head South East and burn towards the towns of Charleston, Woodside and Inverbrackie.
Mr Jones said the terrain and the prevailing conditions were proving particularly challenging for fire crews.
“Access is difficult and dangerous for firefighters, the lack of visibility also makes it very difficult for crews,” he said.
Spot fires ahead of the main front were also thought to have damaged some properties around the town of Lobethal.
Many locals residents had opted to leave but some were remaining to defend their homes.
The most recent emergency-level fire to threaten lives and homes in South Australia was triggered by lightening strikes, the Country Fire Service has confirmed.
“This isn’t just one lightning strike, there have been a number of lightning strikes. There is quite a grouping of fires in that area. Some are appearing to move towards together,” Deputy Chief Officer of the South Australian Country Fire Service, Andrew Stark, has just told ABC television.
“We have a number of aircraft working on that fire, as well as the aircraft we have working back in the Adelaide Hills, four on the firing Peninsula at this stage, and seven swing bombers and helicopter is working on the fire back in the Adelaide Hills.
“Currently, the two groups who have come to our assistance from New South Wales and Victoria are on the ground given that they are unsafe to operate in the Adelaide Hills at this time.”
The fire at Angle Vale, previously at emergency level, has been brought under control.
People have been urged to leave Brookville, in Victoria, with an out-of-control bushfire threatening homes.
A “watch and act” warning was issued on Friday for residents of Brookville, in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, about 390km north-east of Melbourne.
“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly,” the warning reads.
Three NSW regions including Greater Sydney are set to endure catastrophic fire danger on Saturday amid intense heat, strong winds and dry conditions.The NSW Rural Fire Service has forecast catastrophic fire danger for parts of the state - including Greater Sydney - as another “dangerously hot” day looms.Three NSW regions including Greater Sydney are set to endure catastrophic fire danger on Saturday amid intense heat, strong winds and dry conditions.The NSW Rural Fire Service has forecast catastrophic fire danger for parts of the state - including Greater Sydney - as another “dangerously hot” day looms.
The RFS on Friday confirmed that Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Southern Ranges would on Saturday endure catastrophic fire risks.The RFS on Friday confirmed that Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Southern Ranges would on Saturday endure catastrophic fire risks.
Greater Hunter and the Central Ranges would experience extreme fire risk.Greater Hunter and the Central Ranges would experience extreme fire risk.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned temperatures could rise into the mid-40s in western Sydney on Saturday, with strong winds and intensely dry conditions creating additional danger.The Bureau of Meteorology warned temperatures could rise into the mid-40s in western Sydney on Saturday, with strong winds and intensely dry conditions creating additional danger.
The RFS will address media on Friday afternoon.The RFS will address media on Friday afternoon.
An emergency fire warning has been issued for Maitland, in the Yorke Peninsula.An emergency fire warning has been issued for Maitland, in the Yorke Peninsula.
It is now too late to leave and the Country Fire Service advises taking shelter in a solid building.It is now too late to leave and the Country Fire Service advises taking shelter in a solid building.
Trying to find some good news today is pretty difficult. So please accept these adorable rescue puppies for your viewing pleasure.Trying to find some good news today is pretty difficult. So please accept these adorable rescue puppies for your viewing pleasure.
And the record for hottest December day in Victoria falls as well.And the record for hottest December day in Victoria falls as well.
Geoff Goldrick, a deputy captain with the NSW Rural Fire Service in Northern NSW, has written a powerful piece reflecting on the extraordinary events of this year.Geoff Goldrick, a deputy captain with the NSW Rural Fire Service in Northern NSW, has written a powerful piece reflecting on the extraordinary events of this year.
Three temperature records have fallen so far today in South Australia
Scary footage coming out of South Australia now, of the fire at Lobethal.
Authorities have issued an emergency warning for a bushfire which is threatening the Israelite Bay campsite on Western Australia’s south coast.The uncontrolled fire is moving quickly towards the campsite, near Esperance on Western Australia’s south coast, and poses a threat to both homes and lives in the area.
Firefighters are on their way and people in the area should leave now if there is a clear path.
Air Quality has deteriorated rapidly in Victoria, with much of Melbourne now listed as poor or very poor.
View of the smoke from the NSW bushfires shrouding Melbourne’s CBD:
And here is an aerial view of the smoke:
Properties are thought to have been lost or damaged and others remain under threat from two serious bushfires burning near Adelaide.
Country Fire Service chief Mark Jones said the fires in the Adelaide Hills and at Angle Vale, both subject to emergency warnings, were unlikely to be contained soon.
The CFS says 28 fires have been sparked across the state amid catastrophic fire conditions on Friday, AAP reports.
Jones said the terrain and the prevailing conditions in the Adelaide Hills, were making access difficult for fire crews.
“The lack of visibility also makes it very difficult for crews,” he said.
Spot fires ahead of the main front were thought to have damaged some properties around the town of Lobethal with the blaze now burning towards Woodside.
Properties were also thought to have been damaged or lost in the Angle Vale blaze, but Jones said it was too early to confirm details.
The CFS had 59 fire trucks and 11 aircraft tackling the Adelaide Hills fire with 31 trucks and six aircraft deployed to Angle Vale.
More than 500 firefighters were in the field across both incidents and extra aerial resources have also been brought in from NSW and Victoria.
First the fire, now the rain.
Four firefighters have been injured in South Australia at the Cudlee Creek fire, which is at emergency level. It’s currently burning in a south-east direction towards Woodside.