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Australia fires: NSW, Victoria, SA, Qld and WA all face extreme bushfires risk – live Australia fires: NSW, Victoria, SA, Qld and WA all face extreme bushfires risk – live
(32 minutes later)
Melbourne shrouded in smoke haze from bushfires, catastrophic fire danger forecast for parts of New South Wales, including Greater Sydney, homes feared lost in Adelaide, South Australia and almost 70 fires rage across Queensland. Follow the latest news and updatesMelbourne shrouded in smoke haze from bushfires, catastrophic fire danger forecast for parts of New South Wales, including Greater Sydney, homes feared lost in Adelaide, South Australia and almost 70 fires rage across Queensland. Follow the latest news and updates
There’s a thunderstorm warning for South Australia, including some areas that are currently affected by bushfires. So that’s smoke, hail, and damaging winds, all in one place.
Still in Victoria, a firefighter has reportedly been taken to hospital after suffering burns while trying to evacuate a childcare centre at Seaford, a suburb in Melbourne’s south-east.
The fire began as a house fire on Webb Street and spread to adjacent grasslands. It is uncontrolled and burning toward Frankston North, the CFA has said. The area is under a watch and act alert.
The Country Fire Authority has issued an emergency warning for a fast-moving grass fire burning north of Ararat, at the Lexton-Ararat Rd at Amphitheatre.
It’s good evening from me, Amy Corderoy, on the LiveBlog tonight. Calla Wahlquist will take over from now.
It’s starting to feel apocalyptic...It’s starting to feel apocalyptic...
Four South Australian firefighters have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation and three firefighting vehicles have been destroyed, CFS officials have confirmed.Four South Australian firefighters have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation and three firefighting vehicles have been destroyed, CFS officials have confirmed.
The service has been called to more than 120 fires today, but resources from interstate have been hampered by weather conditions.The service has been called to more than 120 fires today, but resources from interstate have been hampered by weather conditions.
“We called upon aerial support from New South Wales and Victoria, but, unfortunately, the prevailing weather conditions meant that we couldn’t use them for all of this afternoon and they had to be grounded for safety reasons,” a spokesman said.“We called upon aerial support from New South Wales and Victoria, but, unfortunately, the prevailing weather conditions meant that we couldn’t use them for all of this afternoon and they had to be grounded for safety reasons,” a spokesman said.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said three police officers had also been injured. SA police commissioner Grant Stevens said three police officers had also been injured.
“We have had three police officers who have been affected by smoke, one being admitted to hospital as a result of a fire in Rennella,” he said.“We have had three police officers who have been affected by smoke, one being admitted to hospital as a result of a fire in Rennella,” he said.
One person has died in South Australia and another is unaccounted for in the Cudlee Creek fire, the South Australian Premier has confirmed.One person has died in South Australia and another is unaccounted for in the Cudlee Creek fire, the South Australian Premier has confirmed.
Steven Marshall described the incident as “very sad” and thanked authorities for doing all they could to help the victim.Steven Marshall described the incident as “very sad” and thanked authorities for doing all they could to help the victim.
“I want to say thank you very much to all of the volunteers who have done everything they possibly can, our CFS, our MFS, ambulance officers, State Emergency Services for the outstanding work they have done I will Oxley police commissioner to provide more details in a moment regarding the tragedy which has occurred in Lameroo,” he said.“I want to say thank you very much to all of the volunteers who have done everything they possibly can, our CFS, our MFS, ambulance officers, State Emergency Services for the outstanding work they have done I will Oxley police commissioner to provide more details in a moment regarding the tragedy which has occurred in Lameroo,” he said.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the person had died in a vehicle accident. SA police commissioner Grant Stevens said the person had died in a vehicle accident.
“It is unclear at this time the exact circumstances of the vehicle collision and because of the fire, but they are currently being investigated,” he said.“It is unclear at this time the exact circumstances of the vehicle collision and because of the fire, but they are currently being investigated,” he said.
Australia recorded its second hottest day on record on Thursday, with an average maximum temperature of 41C (105.8F), the Bureau of Meteorology says.Australia recorded its second hottest day on record on Thursday, with an average maximum temperature of 41C (105.8F), the Bureau of Meteorology says.
It continues the record stretch this week: the last three days are the three hottest recorded.It continues the record stretch this week: the last three days are the three hottest recorded.
Tuesday 17 December recorded an average of 40.9C across the continent, beating the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.Tuesday 17 December recorded an average of 40.9C across the continent, beating the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013.
That new benchmark was smashed on Wednesday, which brought a new mark of 41.9C.That new benchmark was smashed on Wednesday, which brought a new mark of 41.9C.
Eight people have been taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation in South Australia as fires continue to burn there, the ABC reports.Eight people have been taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation in South Australia as fires continue to burn there, the ABC reports.
Dangerous fires are still burning in NSW and South Australia this afternoon.Dangerous fires are still burning in NSW and South Australia this afternoon.
In NSW Gospers Mountain and Green Wattle Creek are still listed at emergency level.In NSW Gospers Mountain and Green Wattle Creek are still listed at emergency level.
In South Australia there are out-of-control fires in Maitland, Cudlee Creek and Lamaroo.In South Australia there are out-of-control fires in Maitland, Cudlee Creek and Lamaroo.
People have been urged to leave their houses in four Victorian towns, as much of the state has been suffering from poor air quality caused by the NSW fires.People have been urged to leave their houses in four Victorian towns, as much of the state has been suffering from poor air quality caused by the NSW fires.
“Catastrophic” fire conditions are expected at three sites across NSW tomorrow: Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Southern Ranges.“Catastrophic” fire conditions are expected at three sites across NSW tomorrow: Greater Sydney, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and the Southern Ranges.
The NSW RFS says it would be a “miracle” if more properties weren’t lost, and that people in fire zones should not assume fire trucks will reach them if disaster strikes.The NSW RFS says it would be a “miracle” if more properties weren’t lost, and that people in fire zones should not assume fire trucks will reach them if disaster strikes.
Fire authorities have warned motorists to be vigilant, and avoid contributing to congestion in fire-affected areas.Fire authorities have warned motorists to be vigilant, and avoid contributing to congestion in fire-affected areas.
Here is where you can find information on fire-related road closures in your state:Here is where you can find information on fire-related road closures in your state:
Live Traffic NSWLive Traffic NSW
Traffic SATraffic SA
Mainroads Western AustraliaMainroads Western Australia
Vicroads alertsVicroads alerts
ACT City ServicesACT City Services
Queensland trafficQueensland traffic
Residents in four Victorian towns have been urged to leave their homes immediately as two bushfires rage out-of-control.
A watch-and-act warning was issued on Friday for residents of Dunkeld, Karabeal and Moutajup, about 280km west of Melbourne near the Grampians.
“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option - conditions may change and get worse very quickly,” the warning reads.
The bushfire is travelling in a southerly direction towards the Glenelg Highway, prompting road closures.
People are advised not to return home if they are out, to travel to the home of family or friends that are away from the warning area and to take their pets, medication and phones.
Another watch-and-act warning was issued at Brookville, about 390 kilometres northeast of Melbourne.
A wind change is pushing a fire at Marthavale, which has been burning since November 21, in a northerly direction towards the town.
Residents there are also being advised to leave, warning “emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay”.
More than 40 fire trucks are at the scene.
The Marthavale fire is directly west of three fires in the East Gippsland region, where about 500 firefighters from the County Fire Authority are working to contain the blazes and strengthen containment lines.
Our reporter Helen Davidson is on the ground at the firefront:
Aerial support has been going all day, without relief. At least one helicopter, a black hawk, and a skycrane, have been feverishly darting around the ridges and gullies surrounding Balmoral, Buxton, and nearby villages.
To the east of Balmoral, members of the local brigade are watching the support dump tonnes of water on a fire that is refusing to die down.
A couple, who have lived on this picturesque edge of the bush for 20 years, have seen three fires go through, and are staying to defend their home if the blaze just over the Ridgeline gets blown towards them.
“We always defend,” Justin says. “You can’t leave t up to the firies, they’ve got enough to do.”
This isn’t always advisable, by the way, but Justin and Helena built their house to be certifiably defendable, and had two fire captains come through to check.
It’s been tested – a 2013 fire hit them but the house survived.
I ask how he’s felling about tomorrow.
“It’s going to be bad,” he says.
“If the wind picks up everyone is going to be in trouble. Heat we can manage but wind is what drives the fire. With that southerly that came through yesterday, you saw what happened to Bargo.”
He gestures at three different directions where fires ring the village. No matter what the wind does, it’ll push a fire towards them.
“Buxton is even worse because they’re surrounded.”
As we stand talking, the fire on the ridge kicks up again and a thick plume of black smoke shoots up as a couple of trees start crowning. It’s a long night ahead.
The Gospers Mountain fire will tomorrow move towards the Kurrajong Heights area and up towards the Blue Mountains.
NSW RFS Deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says while the winds wont drive the fire towards the Blue Mountains, the steep terrain will.
“There will be some burning in the far west part of the mountains that is going on tonight to try to protect some of those communities around Blackheath,” he told a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“And that is simply to try to protect as many properties as we can tomorrow for what we know will be a tough day.”
Fire authorities are also working to prevent the Green Wattle fire from heading north, Rogers says.
“We know tomorrow... that fire will start causing us problems again and we will be dealing with that and we will be doing our best to stop it getting across the Hume Highway, because if it gets across the Hume Highway that opens up a whole new front for us.”
More than 800 buildings have now been lost to the NSW fires, with more to come amidst catastrophic conditions tomorrow.
“I think that’s a fairly sure thing that we will lose homes somewhere tomorrow. It would be a miracle if we didn’t,” deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has warned people living in catastrophic fire danger areas that they cannot count on the service to arrive in time to save them tomorrow.
Deputy commissioner Rob Rogers told a press briefing this afternoon that people should consider relocating.
“Do not put yourself near an isolated bush area if your home is directly on the bush. Do not be there in the heat of the day. We cannot guarantee [we will] get firetrucks to you.
“We have so much in the landscape. We will do our best but we cannot guarantee that.”
He said a number of major thoroughfares in and out of towns could be affected.
“Princes Highway will be affected by tomorrow. We have the Great Western Highway, the Bells Line of Road is already closed.”
Fire activity is increasing again in Gospers Mountain.
A well-known vineyard is burning under catastrophic conditions in the Adelaide Hills.
Golding Wines, near Charleston, is in the middle of the danger zone for the out-of-control Cudlee Creek fire.
According to Nine News, “thousands” of vines were burning at the property and flames were licking toward Cellar Door. The winery hasn’t confirmed the extent of the loss, except to reply to one well-wisher on Twitter.
The Country Fire Authority in South Australia said “quite a number of properties” had been impacted by the Cudlee Creek fire, but that it was too early to confirm numbers.