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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/21/australia-bushfires-catastrophic-conditions-declared-for-nsw-after-horror-day
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| Australia fires: 23 firefighters injured in South Australia bushfires as second person confirmed dead – live | Australia fires: 23 firefighters injured in South Australia bushfires as second person confirmed dead – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Emergency fire warnings have been issued for parts of NSW, including Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia. Follow for the latest news and updates | Emergency fire warnings have been issued for parts of NSW, including Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia. Follow for the latest news and updates |
| The Green Wattle Creek fire, which has been one of the fiercest fires this week, is back at emergency. | |
| There are now two fires at emergency in NSW. | |
| Two firefighters died on Thursday when their truck overturned on the way to the Green Wattle Creek fire, and two were seriously injured in a seperate incident that same day when flames jumped into tree tops and overwhelmed their crew. | |
| The Marthavale fire in Victoria, which quadrupled in size overnight, became so big it began “generating its own weather”, the State Control Centre’s Luke Heagerty told the ABC. | |
| “This fire was large enough to be generating some of its own weather … and was driving itself along purely with the energy created by the fire,” he said. | |
| And elsewhere, in Lexton in the state’s west, residents have shared stories of the evacuation. | |
| Julie Garden, the owner of the Stag Hotel, told the ABC: “It was a bit scary but we were OK. There were a lot of cars going to the football club and everyone was up and about hanging around for a while to see what was going to happen. We could just see a lot of smoke.” | |
| Avoca Milk Bar owner Karan Verma said: “We closed around 8.30pm and at 10pm a woman called up crying.” | |
| And this frightening footage from Adelaide. | |
| As poster Lucky Tran says: “Thousands of expats are now returning home to Australia for the holidays and seeing sights like this from the plane. Incredibly heartbreaking.” | |
| The Gospers Mountain fire covers a very large area, and emergency warnings and conditions will vary in different parts of the area. | |
| The most dangerous area now is from Bilpin to Kurrajong Heights. | |
| Fire activity is increasing here, on the southern side of Bells Line of Road, the RFS says. The path is clear to Richmond, and a safer location is the Richmond Club on East Market Street. | |
| The threat has eased at Lithgow, Hermitage Flat, McKellars Park and Cobar Park. | |
| But people in all areas should be aware that embers can start spot fires ahead of the main fire front, and conditions can change. | |
| The predicted fire spread map is here. Many roads remain closed. | |
| Gospers Mountain has flared back to emergency level. | |
| It was burning at emergency level earlier this morning, before being downgraded to wach and act. The huge fire, burning over 459,848 hectares, is now back to emergency. | |
| Firefighters across NSW are working today despite the grief of losing two of their colleagues and friends on Thursday. | Firefighters across NSW are working today despite the grief of losing two of their colleagues and friends on Thursday. |
| Flags were flown at half-mast on Friday after the two young fathers, Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, were killed when their truck turned over near the Green Wattle Creek fire. | Flags were flown at half-mast on Friday after the two young fathers, Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, were killed when their truck turned over near the Green Wattle Creek fire. |
| Their brigade, the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, is already back on firegounds. | Their brigade, the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, is already back on firegounds. |
| “In true Horsley Park spirit, our crew are heading out today as part of a Cumberland Zone Strike Team in memory of Geoff and Andrew,” the Horsley Park RFS posted on Facebook. | “In true Horsley Park spirit, our crew are heading out today as part of a Cumberland Zone Strike Team in memory of Geoff and Andrew,” the Horsley Park RFS posted on Facebook. |
| NSW police are speaking now. Bells Line of Road, in the Blue Mountains, is closed and they do not know when it will be reopened. | NSW police are speaking now. Bells Line of Road, in the Blue Mountains, is closed and they do not know when it will be reopened. |
| Train lines between McCarthur and Moss Vale are closed. Buses are running to replace them, but in some areas buses cannot enter. | Train lines between McCarthur and Moss Vale are closed. Buses are running to replace them, but in some areas buses cannot enter. |
| The Princes Highway going south is still open at this stage. | The Princes Highway going south is still open at this stage. |
| “We really appreciate the public heeding calls to delay travel,” a police spokeswoman says. It has helped police and firefighters cope, she says. | “We really appreciate the public heeding calls to delay travel,” a police spokeswoman says. It has helped police and firefighters cope, she says. |
| “Today is not the day to start your holiday. Delay your travel until tomorrow.” | “Today is not the day to start your holiday. Delay your travel until tomorrow.” |
| From Royce Kurmelovs in Adelaide: | From Royce Kurmelovs in Adelaide: |
| SA Water are reporting that water has been restored to the Adelaide Hills region overnight. | SA Water are reporting that water has been restored to the Adelaide Hills region overnight. |
| Water stopped flowing to some towns within the evacuation zone as SA power networks conducted a planned shutdown of the electricity supply as the blaze spread. This cut off power to the pumps, which stopped water from flowing, though no one is expected to have been affected. | Water stopped flowing to some towns within the evacuation zone as SA power networks conducted a planned shutdown of the electricity supply as the blaze spread. This cut off power to the pumps, which stopped water from flowing, though no one is expected to have been affected. |
| SA water crews have set up back-up generators that will see water return to Lenswood, Lobethal, Woodside and surrounding areas today. In the meantime, a temporary supply of water remains available for customers to collect opposite the Oakbank Hotel, 207 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Oakbank. | SA water crews have set up back-up generators that will see water return to Lenswood, Lobethal, Woodside and surrounding areas today. In the meantime, a temporary supply of water remains available for customers to collect opposite the Oakbank Hotel, 207 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Oakbank. |
| SA premier Steven Marshall ended that press conference by saying: “My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays, it’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.” | SA premier Steven Marshall ended that press conference by saying: “My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays, it’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.” |
| Prominent racing identity John Glatz was also taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the SA premier said. The ABC is reporting that Glatz’s friends and family said he was in a serious condition. | Prominent racing identity John Glatz was also taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the SA premier said. The ABC is reporting that Glatz’s friends and family said he was in a serious condition. |
| Also in that press conference, CFS chief Mark Jobs said a dry lightning storm sparked eight separate fires on Kangaroo Island yesterday. That fire is now expected to burn for many more days. | Also in that press conference, CFS chief Mark Jobs said a dry lightning storm sparked eight separate fires on Kangaroo Island yesterday. That fire is now expected to burn for many more days. |
| CFS crews have been bolstered by metropolitan fire services today as well. | CFS crews have been bolstered by metropolitan fire services today as well. |
| Twenty-three firefighters were injured yesterday, one seriously. | Twenty-three firefighters were injured yesterday, one seriously. |
| CFS chief Mark Jobs confirmed the injured firefighter was seriously hurt and remained in hospital. | CFS chief Mark Jobs confirmed the injured firefighter was seriously hurt and remained in hospital. |
| “Against the catastrophic conditions and the backdrop of unprecedented challenge, it is remarkable so few of the firefighters and emergency responders were injured,” he said. “And I’m grateful that none seem to have been terribly so.” | “Against the catastrophic conditions and the backdrop of unprecedented challenge, it is remarkable so few of the firefighters and emergency responders were injured,” he said. “And I’m grateful that none seem to have been terribly so.” |
| He said the Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills had burned through 25,000 hectares by 8am this morning. | He said the Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills had burned through 25,000 hectares by 8am this morning. |
| “Three CFS trucks were burned out yesterday.” | “Three CFS trucks were burned out yesterday.” |
| SA police have confirmed that a person has died in the Charleston area in the Adelaide Hills and another is injured. Yesterday, a man died in a car crash near Lameroo. | SA police have confirmed that a person has died in the Charleston area in the Adelaide Hills and another is injured. Yesterday, a man died in a car crash near Lameroo. |
| Police are also in the process of visiting the area to see if any others are affected. There are 90 to 100 properties or calls they are following up on, police commissioner Grant Stevens says. | Police are also in the process of visiting the area to see if any others are affected. There are 90 to 100 properties or calls they are following up on, police commissioner Grant Stevens says. |
| “Indications are at this stage that it may be a tree on power lines” that sparked it and the fire is not suspicious. | “Indications are at this stage that it may be a tree on power lines” that sparked it and the fire is not suspicious. |
| SA premier Steve Marshall confirmed that five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles had been destroyed. | SA premier Steve Marshall confirmed that five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles had been destroyed. |
| Stevens says 27 tier-1 road closures are currently in place across the state. “Tier-1 road closures mean only emergency services personnel are able to enter those locations,” he says. | Stevens says 27 tier-1 road closures are currently in place across the state. “Tier-1 road closures mean only emergency services personnel are able to enter those locations,” he says. |
| From Adelaide, correspondent Royce Kurmelovs has the latest: | From Adelaide, correspondent Royce Kurmelovs has the latest: |
| CFS crews have battled the flames in the Adelaide Hills well into the night as the fire has burnt unchecked across 25,000 hectares. While conditions eased overnight, those flying into Adelaide could see the flames from the air as the fire burned out of control. | CFS crews have battled the flames in the Adelaide Hills well into the night as the fire has burnt unchecked across 25,000 hectares. While conditions eased overnight, those flying into Adelaide could see the flames from the air as the fire burned out of control. |
| The area of Cudlee Creek is rough terrain, which has made the blaze difficult to control, while the extreme conditions of previous days has given it more ferocity. The blaze was downgraded to Watch and Act at 5am, though windy conditions this morning mean it remains uncontained. | The area of Cudlee Creek is rough terrain, which has made the blaze difficult to control, while the extreme conditions of previous days has given it more ferocity. The blaze was downgraded to Watch and Act at 5am, though windy conditions this morning mean it remains uncontained. |
| Residents of the area have been left with a nervous wait for news of their homes, with reports of many having been lost. Road closures remain in effect as large trees are blocking roads, while the ground continues to smoulder even in areas which may appear clear. | Residents of the area have been left with a nervous wait for news of their homes, with reports of many having been lost. Road closures remain in effect as large trees are blocking roads, while the ground continues to smoulder even in areas which may appear clear. |
| A community meeting will be held at the Oakbank area school at 1.30pm and while there is no available information about property damage, the CFS will be deploying rapid damage assessment teams today to take stock. | A community meeting will be held at the Oakbank area school at 1.30pm and while there is no available information about property damage, the CFS will be deploying rapid damage assessment teams today to take stock. |
| Meanwhile, the blaze sparked by a lightning strike on Kangaroo Island continues to burn. The CFS says there are “quite a few” fires burning in the area and that a reconnaissance flight is planned for today to assess the situation. | Meanwhile, the blaze sparked by a lightning strike on Kangaroo Island continues to burn. The CFS says there are “quite a few” fires burning in the area and that a reconnaissance flight is planned for today to assess the situation. |
| The NSW RFS has set up an official fundraising portal for the families of the two volunteers – Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer – who were killed on Thursday while on duty at the Green Wattle Creek fire. | The NSW RFS has set up an official fundraising portal for the families of the two volunteers – Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer – who were killed on Thursday while on duty at the Green Wattle Creek fire. |
| The link is here. | The link is here. |
| “All funds received will be equally distributed between the spouses of Geoffrey and Andrew, and tax receipts will be issued to donors,” the RFS said. “Both Geoffrey and Andrew leave behind loving partners and very young children.” | “All funds received will be equally distributed between the spouses of Geoffrey and Andrew, and tax receipts will be issued to donors,” the RFS said. “Both Geoffrey and Andrew leave behind loving partners and very young children.” |
| Geoffrey Keaton was 32 years old, joined the RFS in 2006 and was deputy captain of the Horsley Park brigade. Andrew O’Dwyer was 36 and joined the RFS in 2003. | Geoffrey Keaton was 32 years old, joined the RFS in 2006 and was deputy captain of the Horsley Park brigade. Andrew O’Dwyer was 36 and joined the RFS in 2003. |
| And at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney last night, a touching tribute was held for the two firefighters during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United A-League match. | And at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney last night, a touching tribute was held for the two firefighters during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United A-League match. |
| And for more on the communications kerfuffle and the PR disaster of the PM’s trip, Amy Remeikis has the definitive read. | And for more on the communications kerfuffle and the PR disaster of the PM’s trip, Amy Remeikis has the definitive read. |