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| Australia fires: SA hard hit as fires burn into the night – as it happened | |
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| 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 updates | 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 updates |
| Emergency warnings remain in place for fires burning in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, and on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. One person has died in a car crash near Lameroo, in the bushfire zone, but it’s not clear at this stage whether they were fleeing the fire. | Emergency warnings remain in place for fires burning in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, and on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. One person has died in a car crash near Lameroo, in the bushfire zone, but it’s not clear at this stage whether they were fleeing the fire. |
| We do not yet have a clear picture of the scale of the damage in South Australia and whether any more lives have been lost. The Adelaide Hills appear to have sustained significant damage. One person has been reported missing. | We do not yet have a clear picture of the scale of the damage in South Australia and whether any more lives have been lost. The Adelaide Hills appear to have sustained significant damage. One person has been reported missing. |
| Eight people — four firefighters, three police officers, and one other person — have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation in SA. | Eight people — four firefighters, three police officers, and one other person — have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation in SA. |
| A cool change will move through SA and Victoria tonight, bringing stronger winds and swinging active fires around, risking creating wide fire fronts. | A cool change will move through SA and Victoria tonight, bringing stronger winds and swinging active fires around, risking creating wide fire fronts. |
| Three grassfires near Ballarat in western Victoria were under an emergency warning on Friday night. That warning extended to Teesdale and other communities just 30km west of Geelong, which are under threat from the Mount Mercer fire. | Three grassfires near Ballarat in western Victoria were under an emergency warning on Friday night. That warning extended to Teesdale and other communities just 30km west of Geelong, which are under threat from the Mount Mercer fire. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology warned that dangerous fire conditions would continue late into the night. | The Bureau of Meteorology warned that dangerous fire conditions would continue late into the night. |
| The RFS has set up an account for donations for the families of volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who died when their truck rolled near Buxton last night. | The RFS has set up an account for donations for the families of volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who died when their truck rolled near Buxton last night. |
| New South Wales is bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Saturday. A catastrophic warning has been issued for Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and Southern Ranges — all areas where fires are currently burning. The Greater Hunter, ACT and Central Ranges will have extreme conditions. | New South Wales is bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Saturday. A catastrophic warning has been issued for Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and Southern Ranges — all areas where fires are currently burning. The Greater Hunter, ACT and Central Ranges will have extreme conditions. |
| RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said it would be a “miracle” if more houses were not lost in NSW tomorrow. | RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said it would be a “miracle” if more houses were not lost in NSW tomorrow. |
| Fire chiefs in NSW, SA and Victoria have all emphasised that they may not be able to get a warning to people, and they cannot guarantee they will be able to get a firetruck to everyone affected by bushfires. The recommendation, across the country, is to leave early. “Early” means before the fire approaches — not after the embers have begun falling. | Fire chiefs in NSW, SA and Victoria have all emphasised that they may not be able to get a warning to people, and they cannot guarantee they will be able to get a firetruck to everyone affected by bushfires. The recommendation, across the country, is to leave early. “Early” means before the fire approaches — not after the embers have begun falling. |
| People in NSW have been told to put off travel tomorrow because the Princes Highway, Western Highway, Hume Highway and other major arterial roads could be cut. | People in NSW have been told to put off travel tomorrow because the Princes Highway, Western Highway, Hume Highway and other major arterial roads could be cut. |
| Stay safe, stay off the roads if you’re not actively evacuating to a safer place, and look after each other. We’ll see you tomorrow. | Stay safe, stay off the roads if you’re not actively evacuating to a safer place, and look after each other. We’ll see you tomorrow. |
| New emergency warning for Victoria | New emergency warning for Victoria |
| An emergency warning has been issued for the areas of Bamganie, Shelford, and Teesdale, which are west of Geelong. They are under immediate threat from the uncontrolled grassfire that started at Mount Mercer, near Ballarat. | An emergency warning has been issued for the areas of Bamganie, Shelford, and Teesdale, which are west of Geelong. They are under immediate threat from the uncontrolled grassfire that started at Mount Mercer, near Ballarat. |
| It is too late for residents in those towns to leave. | It is too late for residents in those towns to leave. |
| Emergency warnings remain in place for fires burning in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, and on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. One person has died in a car crash near Lameroo, in the bushfire zone, but it’s not clear at this stage whether they were fleeing the fire. | Emergency warnings remain in place for fires burning in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, and on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. One person has died in a car crash near Lameroo, in the bushfire zone, but it’s not clear at this stage whether they were fleeing the fire. |
| We do not yet have a clear picture of the scale of the damage in South Australia and whether any more lives have been lost. The Adelaide Hills appear to have sustained significant damage. One person has been reported missing. | We do not yet have a clear picture of the scale of the damage in South Australia and whether any more lives have been lost. The Adelaide Hills appear to have sustained significant damage. One person has been reported missing. |
| Eight people — four firefighters, three police officers, and one other person — have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation in SA. | Eight people — four firefighters, three police officers, and one other person — have been treated for burns and smoke inhalation in SA. |
| A cool change will move through SA and Victoria tonight, bringing stronger winds and swinging active fires around, risking creating wide fire fronts. | A cool change will move through SA and Victoria tonight, bringing stronger winds and swinging active fires around, risking creating wide fire fronts. |
| Two grassfires near Ballarat in western Victoria were under an emergency warning on Friday night. The Bureau of Meteorology warned that dangerous fire conditions would continue late into the night. | Two grassfires near Ballarat in western Victoria were under an emergency warning on Friday night. The Bureau of Meteorology warned that dangerous fire conditions would continue late into the night. |
| The RFS has set up an account for donations for the families of volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who died when their truck rolled near Buxton last night. | The RFS has set up an account for donations for the families of volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who died when their truck rolled near Buxton last night. |
| New South Wales is bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Saturday. A catastrophic warning has been issued for Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and Southern Ranges — all areas where fires are currently burning. The Greater Hunter, ACT and Central Ranges will have extreme conditions. | New South Wales is bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions on Saturday. A catastrophic warning has been issued for Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and Southern Ranges — all areas where fires are currently burning. The Greater Hunter, ACT and Central Ranges will have extreme conditions. |
| RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said it would be a “miracle” if more houses were not lost in NSW tomorrow. | RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said it would be a “miracle” if more houses were not lost in NSW tomorrow. |
| Fire chiefs in NSW, SA and Victoria have all emphasised that they may not be able to get a warning to people, and they cannot guarantee they will be able to get a firetruck to everyone affected by bushfires. The recommendation, across the country, is to leave early. “Early” means before the fire approaches — not after the embers have begun falling. | Fire chiefs in NSW, SA and Victoria have all emphasised that they may not be able to get a warning to people, and they cannot guarantee they will be able to get a firetruck to everyone affected by bushfires. The recommendation, across the country, is to leave early. “Early” means before the fire approaches — not after the embers have begun falling. |
| People in NSW have been told to put off travel tomorrow because the Princes Highway, Western Highway, Hume Highway and other major arterial roads could be cut. | People in NSW have been told to put off travel tomorrow because the Princes Highway, Western Highway, Hume Highway and other major arterial roads could be cut. |
| Stay safe, stay off the roads if you’re not actively evacuating to a safer place, and look after each other. We’ll see you tomorrow. | Stay safe, stay off the roads if you’re not actively evacuating to a safer place, and look after each other. We’ll see you tomorrow. |
| The CFS has established an emergency relief centre for the Maitland fire at the Minalton Bowling Club. | The CFS has established an emergency relief centre for the Maitland fire at the Minalton Bowling Club. |
| The fire at Maitland has now been downgraded to a watch and act level. | The fire at Maitland has now been downgraded to a watch and act level. |
| South Australian senator Penny Wong has expressed her condolences to the family of the person who died in a vehicle crash in the SA fires. | South Australian senator Penny Wong has expressed her condolences to the family of the person who died in a vehicle crash in the SA fires. |
| The ABC just reported that fire has entered the main street of Charleston, a small town in the Adelaide Hills. | The ABC just reported that fire has entered the main street of Charleston, a small town in the Adelaide Hills. |
| The wind is swinging around to the south now, which will push the fire north. That means that what was previously the fire flank will become a very wide fire front. | The wind is swinging around to the south now, which will push the fire north. That means that what was previously the fire flank will become a very wide fire front. |
| Behold: bats being watered in Melbourne, as the temperature climbed into the low 4os this afternoon. | Behold: bats being watered in Melbourne, as the temperature climbed into the low 4os this afternoon. |
| Flying foxes are very susceptible to the heat. More than 400 were killed in a heatwave in western Sydney last year. So I’m sure they enjoyed the shower. | Flying foxes are very susceptible to the heat. More than 400 were killed in a heatwave in western Sydney last year. So I’m sure they enjoyed the shower. |
| Donations open for firefighters families | Donations open for firefighters families |
| If you want to help the families of Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, the firefighters killed when their truck rolled at the Green Wattle Creek fire on Thursday night, the RFS has set up an official bank account. | If you want to help the families of Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, the firefighters killed when their truck rolled at the Green Wattle Creek fire on Thursday night, the RFS has set up an official bank account. |
| Donations to that bank account will go to their families, both of which include very young children. The details are here. | Donations to that bank account will go to their families, both of which include very young children. The details are here. |
| Keaton, 32, joined the RFS in 2006 and was the deputy captain of the Horsley Park brigade. O’Dwyer, 36, joined in 2003 and was a member of the Horsley Park brigade. | Keaton, 32, joined the RFS in 2006 and was the deputy captain of the Horsley Park brigade. O’Dwyer, 36, joined in 2003 and was a member of the Horsley Park brigade. |
| Koala habitat still at risk | Koala habitat still at risk |
| Meanwhile, the Nature Conservation Council says a policy announced today that is supposed to help koalas will “fall well short of what is required to protect the species”. | Meanwhile, the Nature Conservation Council says a policy announced today that is supposed to help koalas will “fall well short of what is required to protect the species”. |
| A significant proportion of koala habitat in NSW has been destroyed or is under threat from bushfires, including genetically significant populations in the Blue Mountains. It is enough to put the species at risk. | A significant proportion of koala habitat in NSW has been destroyed or is under threat from bushfires, including genetically significant populations in the Blue Mountains. It is enough to put the species at risk. |
| The NSW government today released a new State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2019. It clarifies the definition of core koala habitat and increase increases the number of tree species that can be used to identify koala habitat from 10 to 123. | The NSW government today released a new State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2019. It clarifies the definition of core koala habitat and increase increases the number of tree species that can be used to identify koala habitat from 10 to 123. |
| “These changes are positive but local councils are still under no obligation to develop koala plans of management,” campaigner Shirley Hall said. | “These changes are positive but local councils are still under no obligation to develop koala plans of management,” campaigner Shirley Hall said. |
| “Only a handful of the 88 councils in NSW identified as needing koala plans of management have developed them to a standard acceptable to the state government since the original koala SEPP was created in 1995. | “Only a handful of the 88 councils in NSW identified as needing koala plans of management have developed them to a standard acceptable to the state government since the original koala SEPP was created in 1995. |
| “Part of the problem is that some councils are hostile to koala conservation. Others simply lack the resources to create the plan.” | “Part of the problem is that some councils are hostile to koala conservation. Others simply lack the resources to create the plan.” |
| It can cost up to $150,000 to put a koala plan of management in place in an individual local government area, Hall said. That cost would be covered with $12m in state funding, but the funding is not forthcoming. | It can cost up to $150,000 to put a koala plan of management in place in an individual local government area, Hall said. That cost would be covered with $12m in state funding, but the funding is not forthcoming. |
| “If the NSW Government is serious about koala conservation, it should make the development of koala plans of management compulsory for all identified regions and ensure all councils have the resources they need to implement them,” Hall said. | “If the NSW Government is serious about koala conservation, it should make the development of koala plans of management compulsory for all identified regions and ensure all councils have the resources they need to implement them,” Hall said. |
| “Ninety-nine per cent of identified koala habitat on private land in NSW was risk of being cleared before these changes and that remains the case.” | “Ninety-nine per cent of identified koala habitat on private land in NSW was risk of being cleared before these changes and that remains the case.” |
| To Queensland now, where AAP reports that 98 people (31 adults and 67 children) have been charged with arson by Queensland police. | To Queensland now, where AAP reports that 98 people (31 adults and 67 children) have been charged with arson by Queensland police. |
| Queensland has been battling devastating bushfires since August, losing 43 homes and 240,000 hectares of bushland. | Queensland has been battling devastating bushfires since August, losing 43 homes and 240,000 hectares of bushland. |
| Police said on Friday that 103 of the fires started since September were deliberately lit, and more than 120 fires are still being investigated to determine their ignition source. | Police said on Friday that 103 of the fires started since September were deliberately lit, and more than 120 fires are still being investigated to determine their ignition source. |
| Some 65 fires continued to burn across the state on Friday, jumping from 55 reported on Thursday. | Some 65 fires continued to burn across the state on Friday, jumping from 55 reported on Thursday. |
| Conditions are forecast to improve along the Queensland coast into next week but residents across the state should remain on alert about fire and heat warnings, the Bureau of Meteorology says. | Conditions are forecast to improve along the Queensland coast into next week but residents across the state should remain on alert about fire and heat warnings, the Bureau of Meteorology says. |
| “It is vital not to become complacent when hearing these continued warnings,” forecaster Rosa Hoff told media on Friday. “The danger is as real as it was the first day we experienced it in Queensland.” | “It is vital not to become complacent when hearing these continued warnings,” forecaster Rosa Hoff told media on Friday. “The danger is as real as it was the first day we experienced it in Queensland.” |
| There are now five fires burning at emergency warning level in South Australia. | There are now five fires burning at emergency warning level in South Australia. |
| The latest fire to be upgraded is a stubble fire at Dudley East on Kangaroo Island. Another fire is burning at emergency warning level near Menzies on the north side of the island. | The latest fire to be upgraded is a stubble fire at Dudley East on Kangaroo Island. Another fire is burning at emergency warning level near Menzies on the north side of the island. |
| The warning message from the CFS is very direct. | The warning message from the CFS is very direct. |
| The other fires at emergency warning level are at Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula, Cudlee Creek in the Adelaide Hills, and Virginia on Adelaide’s outskirts. | The other fires at emergency warning level are at Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula, Cudlee Creek in the Adelaide Hills, and Virginia on Adelaide’s outskirts. |
| The cool change is tracking through SA at the moment, but that is not good news in the short term. It means a wind change, increased wind speeds, and the possibility of more dry lightning, as there’s no rain associated with the change. | The cool change is tracking through SA at the moment, but that is not good news in the short term. It means a wind change, increased wind speeds, and the possibility of more dry lightning, as there’s no rain associated with the change. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |