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NSW fires live: roads closed and second person dead in South Australia bushfires – latest news NSW fires live: roads closed and second person dead in South Australia bushfires – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Emergency fire warnings have been issued for parts of NSW, including Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia, and the Australian weather forecast is for extreme temperaturesEmergency fire warnings have been issued for parts of NSW, including Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia, and the Australian weather forecast is for extreme temperatures
SA premier Steven Marshall has cancelled his own planned Christmas holiday, according to AAP. We are in Richmond where smoke is extraordinarily thick and the RFS’s 737 Large Air Tanker is doing laps overhead, bombing the fire just a few suburbs away.
The Richmond club is acting as the evacuation centre. There hasn’t been an evacuation centre declared officially for this area yet and people are a bit confused about where they are supposed to go, but people are welcome at the Richmond club and many have just shown up with pets and family having left their homes either as a precaution or fleeing the fire.
A couple has arrived with seven cats, and another man came down from Mount Bowen on his bike, we’re told.
Mary Lyons-Buckett is the deputy mayor of Hawkesbury, and tells us people are mainly coming from Bilpin, Mount Bowen – which was recently evacuated – and Kurrajong and Kurrajong Heights.
“Our local fire brigades, many of them went up north and have been fighting the fires in Port Macquarie and so on, and they have been fighting this fire in the valley for a good four or five weeks.”
“From a community perspective there are really heightened emotions, people are tearful just speaking about it even if they aren’t affected.”
In that press conference, RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also confirmed that those Blue Mountains fires are now moving towards the populated Blackheath and Mt Victoria areas. Many residents say they are preparing to evacuate, and pictures have certainly showed the fire conditions there worsening in the past hour or two.
Looking to the coming days and weeks ahead, BOM spokeswoman says there were be thunderstorms during Christmas Eve but that won’t be “significant for fire dampening”. Air quality in the Sydney area will improve to “fair” tomorrow, rather than “hazardous” as it has been today.
Asked when NSW can expect sustained rainfall, the spokeswoman says there is nothing significant forecast for the next month or two.
Fitzsimmons also said that so far in greater Sydney area conditions had not quite reached “catastrophic”.
“A couple of hours to go, hopefully we don’t get there.,” he says.
But Fitzsimmons adds: “Today has been an awful day. We have seen property impacted and lost.”
Morgan also says that paramedics have received six reports of children locked in cars of the past week, which has diverted them from other work.
Dominic Morgan from Ambulance NSW says there are reports of four fire fighters who have suffered heat exhaustion. Their conditions range from minor to “quite severe”.
Fitzsimmons notes the smoke that has engulfed the greater Sydney area has effectively served as an “insulator”. He says that has been “preventing some of the temperatures getting as high we might have thought for this time of the day which is a good thing”.
Fitzsimmons says there will be improved – that is, milder – conditions including a dramatic temperature drop after today.
Hi there, Luke Henriques-Gomes here again taking over from Naaman. I’m sure I speak for all of you when I say thanks for your work here today, Naaman.
Fitzsimmons says there are no reports of serious injuries. One firefighter needed treatment at the fire near Balmoral.
There are also reports of homes being damaged or destroyed near Lithgow and reports of fires approaching buildings in Balmoral.
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is providing a briefing as we speak. There are new fires, including south of Nowra, and another south of Tumut which began around noon. It’s believed that fire was sparked by a torched car.
He says major roads impacted by the fires include the Princes highway heading south, the Hume highway heading south from Sydney, and the Great Western highway heading out of Sydney.
The SA premier, Steven Marshall, has cancelled his own planned Christmas holiday, according to AAP.
Marshall had been scheduled to leave this week for a holiday in New Zealand. But he said today he would stay in Adelaide while the fire emergency was active.Marshall had been scheduled to leave this week for a holiday in New Zealand. But he said today he would stay in Adelaide while the fire emergency was active.
“My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays,” he said earlier. “It’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.”“My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays,” he said earlier. “It’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.”
There are reports now that NSW departmental employees have been telling people at evacuation centres not to speak to media.There are reports now that NSW departmental employees have been telling people at evacuation centres not to speak to media.
That’s even if the residents are happy to talk.That’s even if the residents are happy to talk.
The ABC’s Isobel Roe, Selby Stewart and Rhett Burnie have all shared their experiences of this happening yesterday.The ABC’s Isobel Roe, Selby Stewart and Rhett Burnie have all shared their experiences of this happening yesterday.
Staff at the centres were welcoming, they clarify.Staff at the centres were welcoming, they clarify.
AAP reports that tonight’s Big Bash match in Canberra may be called off due to smoke.AAP reports that tonight’s Big Bash match in Canberra may be called off due to smoke.
Haze resulting from bushfires will be discussed in the pre-match medical briefing at Manuka Oval, where the game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers is slated to start at 6.10pm AEDT, AAP reports.Haze resulting from bushfires will be discussed in the pre-match medical briefing at Manuka Oval, where the game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers is slated to start at 6.10pm AEDT, AAP reports.
If visibility is too poor and/or Air Quality Index (AQI) data is too alarming, then play will not go ahead. The pre-match briefing at Manuka Oval is due to take place at 5.10pm AEDT on Saturday night.If visibility is too poor and/or Air Quality Index (AQI) data is too alarming, then play will not go ahead. The pre-match briefing at Manuka Oval is due to take place at 5.10pm AEDT on Saturday night.
In weather news, the southerly has come through Nowra. It will reach Sydney at 5pm, the Hunter region at 8pm and the mid-north coast closer to midnight.
This will change wind directions and worsen fires, the RFS and bureau say.
SA veterinarians say it is “horrendous” in the state as they rescue wildlife, reports Royce Kurmelovs.
The South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (Savem) is a response and recovery agency for Australian wildlife that has been activated by the South Australian government.
Savem is a volunteer group of veterinarians who work to rescue and treat wildlife caught up in bushfires.
Dr Rachel Westcott, the groups’s coordinator, said she had two staff doing reconnaissance today, with two strike teams of 25 or 30 people to be sent out tomorrow when access to the area has been permitted by the CFS.
“It’s horrendous – it’s very bad,” she said. “I have not been out there yet. I’m a practising vet, so I’m wrapping up my work today so I can be there tomorrow. We have our operations manager and nursing coordinator surveying the situation.”
An updated emergency warning from Victoria: properties are now impacted in Tambo Crossing.
The fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction and impacting private property in Tambo Crossing, the CFA says.
“The Great Alpine Road is closed between Ensay and Bruthen. If you are leaving from the Ensay area, travel north towards Omeo on the Great Alpine Road.”
And the Tianjara fire has now changed direction.
The southerly change has crossed the firegound and it is now moving north towards Terpentine Road.
For those in Wandandian and Jerrawangala, it is too late to leave.
There are six fires currently at emergency level in NSW, after conditions worsened this afternoon.
The Grose Valley fire and Upper Turon Road fires were upgraded 20 minutes ago to emergency.
At the Grose Valley fire, fire activity is increasing along Hat Hill Road in Blackheath. Fire activity is increasing all across the Upper Turon Road fireground and there is a risk of ember attack near Razorback Road and Cherry Tree Hill.
The Currowan fire is increasing in both the north-east (Fishermans Paradise and Cunjurong Point) and south-west (Braidwood) corners of the fire.
At the same time, the Green Wattle Creek fire, which was already at emergency, is approaching Yanderra.
McCormack also confirms that Morrison will arrive back in Australia today.
“He is on his way back to the country and that is a good thing,” he says. “No-one could have envisaged the week we have had.
“Everyone is entitled to holiday – many people, not just politicians, take a break. He will be back today.”
Michael McCormack is asked if he believes we can do more to combat climate change.
“Yes, I do,” he says.
But he says the important thing for now is “to put fires out”.
He also says climate change is not the only factor. Other factors include lighting and even “self-combusting horse manure” – a point he made on Thursday as well.
“For those running around saying we should abandon coal right now, what are we going to do with our electricity over summer if we shut them all down today? Coal provides almost two-thirds of our energy needs.”
As for the coalition of former fire chiefs, including Greg Mullins, who are urging action on climate change and a shift to renewables, McCormack says: “Let’s remember they are funded by Tim Flannery.”
But he agrees we do need more action on climate change – “whatever that may be”, in the words of the reporter.
Hi all, Naaman Zhou back here. Thanks to Luke Henriques-Gomes for his work on the blog just then.
Michael McCormack fronted the media in Wagga Wagga earlier. The ABC is broadcasting the press conference now.
Littleproud is also asked whether Australia should do more to combat climate change. He says the government is committed to meeting the Paris targets. When asked if, yes or no, the government believes more can be done, he dodges the question.
But Littleproud says climate change has “been a contributing factor” to the current fires.
You might remember these comments he made on the same topic three months ago.