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| Victoria fires live: 11 emergency warnings in place for Victorian bushfires – latest | Victoria fires live: 11 emergency warnings in place for Victorian bushfires – latest |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An emergency warning is current for Bundoora in the northern suburbs of Melbourne as fires spread across East Gippsland, where Vic Emergency has ordered a mass evacuation | An emergency warning is current for Bundoora in the northern suburbs of Melbourne as fires spread across East Gippsland, where Vic Emergency has ordered a mass evacuation |
| The NSW RFS has published a series of pretty worrying maps ahead of conditions worsening tomorrow. | |
| With fires burning around the border region of NSW and Victoria, we are starting to see single fires burning in two states. We’ll do our best to stay on top of those, but bear in mind the separate state fire authorities give different names to the fires, with state-specific warnings and information. | |
| The CFA has issued an emergency warning for Walwa, Mount Alfred, Guys Forest, Burrowye, Cudgewa, Cudgewa North and Tintaldra. | |
| The fire is 13km west-north-west of Walwa (referred to in NSW as the emergency level fire at Green Valle, Talmalmo) and is not under control. It has crossed the border and is moving in a south-easterly direction towards Walwa and Shelley Walwa Road. | |
| The CFA warns it could impact Walwa within the next three hours, and that leaving now is the safest option. | The CFA warns it could impact Walwa within the next three hours, and that leaving now is the safest option. |
| The NSW RFS describes this fire as burning in the Jingellic area to the east of Albury, increasing in the area of River Road on the north side of the Murray River, where crews are working to protect property. | |
| It is too late to leave for NSW residents in the area of River Road and Jingellic. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. | It is too late to leave for NSW residents in the area of River Road and Jingellic. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. |
| We are hearing reports on the ground that the fire is within 10km of Bairnsdale. | We are hearing reports on the ground that the fire is within 10km of Bairnsdale. |
| At 2.30pm, Gippsland fire incident controller Ben Rankin said the fire had yet to leave public land, apart from the occasional spot fire in a paddock at Tambo Crossing. | At 2.30pm, Gippsland fire incident controller Ben Rankin said the fire had yet to leave public land, apart from the occasional spot fire in a paddock at Tambo Crossing. |
| Jenny and Alan Blair were planning to leave their house on Orrs Road, Wy Yung, when embers began to fall in their backyard. They did not last that long. | Jenny and Alan Blair were planning to leave their house on Orrs Road, Wy Yung, when embers began to fall in their backyard. They did not last that long. |
| At 4pm, Jenny says, she looked outside and saw two huge columns of smoke, from the Barmouth Spur and W Tree fires, bearing down on their 15-acre property. | At 4pm, Jenny says, she looked outside and saw two huge columns of smoke, from the Barmouth Spur and W Tree fires, bearing down on their 15-acre property. |
| “We didn’t see embers but we just saw that,” Jennys says. | “We didn’t see embers but we just saw that,” Jennys says. |
| “It was like: look, we have to go now.” | “It was like: look, we have to go now.” |
| Alan was planning to stay, but changed his mind when he saw the scale of the fire. Soon after they left, a neighbour who remained said the fire had reached Orrs Road. It’s a long road, says Jenny. | Alan was planning to stay, but changed his mind when he saw the scale of the fire. Soon after they left, a neighbour who remained said the fire had reached Orrs Road. It’s a long road, says Jenny. |
| The house might be OK. Or it might not. | The house might be OK. Or it might not. |
| They are staying with their son in the other side of town. | They are staying with their son in the other side of town. |
| “We have a spare room that we were planning to offer to people who need it,” Jenny said. “Now we’ll be in someone’s spare room.” | “We have a spare room that we were planning to offer to people who need it,” Jenny said. “Now we’ll be in someone’s spare room.” |
| While the Sydney fireworks are going ahead, National Parks and Wildlife have decided to close the viewing areas at North Head and Bradley’s Head (ticket holders for the latter will be refunded). | While the Sydney fireworks are going ahead, National Parks and Wildlife have decided to close the viewing areas at North Head and Bradley’s Head (ticket holders for the latter will be refunded). |
| This decision was made in the interest of public safety due to the severe fire danger and very high winds predicted for tomorrow. | This decision was made in the interest of public safety due to the severe fire danger and very high winds predicted for tomorrow. |
| Emergency vehicles, residents, and Q Station guests will still have access to North Head Scenic Drive, but that road and the top part of Darley Road will be closed from 8am. | Emergency vehicles, residents, and Q Station guests will still have access to North Head Scenic Drive, but that road and the top part of Darley Road will be closed from 8am. |
| The NSW Rural Fire Service has given the green light to Sydney’s New Years Eve fireworks show tomorrow. | The NSW Rural Fire Service has given the green light to Sydney’s New Years Eve fireworks show tomorrow. |
| Regional fireworks shows have been cancelled or postponed across the state because of the fire risk, and just a few hours ago the Parramatta city council also announced they were cancelling their show. This morning the deputy premier, John Barilaro, said it was “an easy decision” and called for Sydney’s to be canned. | Regional fireworks shows have been cancelled or postponed across the state because of the fire risk, and just a few hours ago the Parramatta city council also announced they were cancelling their show. This morning the deputy premier, John Barilaro, said it was “an easy decision” and called for Sydney’s to be canned. |
| But the City of Sydney – amid much debate – said it wouldn’t cancel unless the RFS asked them too. | But the City of Sydney – amid much debate – said it wouldn’t cancel unless the RFS asked them too. |
| A short time ago the RFS approved the event, and said they were assessing a few other exemptions to the total fire ban. | A short time ago the RFS approved the event, and said they were assessing a few other exemptions to the total fire ban. |
| There are 11 emergency warnings for fires in Victoria, four in NSW, and one in Tasmania. | There are 11 emergency warnings for fires in Victoria, four in NSW, and one in Tasmania. |
| Victoria’s warnings are spread across the East Gippsland region, in suburban Melbourne, and in the Burrowa Pine Mountain national park. | Victoria’s warnings are spread across the East Gippsland region, in suburban Melbourne, and in the Burrowa Pine Mountain national park. |
| The four in NSW are at Talmalmo, Dunns Road, Charleys Forest, and Wyndham. | The four in NSW are at Talmalmo, Dunns Road, Charleys Forest, and Wyndham. |
| Tasmania’s is at Pelham. | Tasmania’s is at Pelham. |
| Over in the UK, the BBC has put climate change and the Australian bushfires at the top of its news agenda on Radio 4. | Over in the UK, the BBC has put climate change and the Australian bushfires at the top of its news agenda on Radio 4. |
| Back in November the BBC announced that Greta Thunberg would be a guest editor of its flagship radio news programme, Today. | Back in November the BBC announced that Greta Thunberg would be a guest editor of its flagship radio news programme, Today. |
| The bushfire crisis here was the number two item, after climate change warnings from the governor of the reserve bank. | The bushfire crisis here was the number two item, after climate change warnings from the governor of the reserve bank. |
| The programme’s producers also arranged for Thunberg to meet Sir David Attenborough. | The programme’s producers also arranged for Thunberg to meet Sir David Attenborough. |
| Three houses have sustained minor damage in the bushfire at Bundoora. | Three houses have sustained minor damage in the bushfire at Bundoora. |
| “MFB and CFA firefighters remain on scene to continue tackling the blaze with a wind change expected to come through this evening,” the Melbourne Fire Brigade said. | “MFB and CFA firefighters remain on scene to continue tackling the blaze with a wind change expected to come through this evening,” the Melbourne Fire Brigade said. |
| A waterbombing aircraft is among more than 20 appliances on the scene in suburban Melbourne. | A waterbombing aircraft is among more than 20 appliances on the scene in suburban Melbourne. |
| Chris Hopkins and Calla Wahlquist have been out at Bairnsdale today. | Chris Hopkins and Calla Wahlquist have been out at Bairnsdale today. |
| These photos from Hopkins show the 12km-high smoke plume from two merged fires - the W Tree fire and the Barmouth Spur fire. | These photos from Hopkins show the 12km-high smoke plume from two merged fires - the W Tree fire and the Barmouth Spur fire. |
| Hobart is among a list of Tasmanian centres to have experienced their hottest December day on record, the Bureau of Meteorology says. | Hobart is among a list of Tasmanian centres to have experienced their hottest December day on record, the Bureau of Meteorology says. |
| The temperature in the state capital peaked at 40.8C shortly before 2pm. The previous benchmark for December was 40.6C, set 122 years ago in 1897. | The temperature in the state capital peaked at 40.8C shortly before 2pm. The previous benchmark for December was 40.6C, set 122 years ago in 1897. |
| The unusually high Tasmanian temperatures meant all six states and the Northern Territory recorded temperatures north of 40C. It reached 41.9C in Adelaide and, at the time of writing, 40.8C in Melbourne. Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong, hit 44.4C, and Alice Springs reached 42C. | The unusually high Tasmanian temperatures meant all six states and the Northern Territory recorded temperatures north of 40C. It reached 41.9C in Adelaide and, at the time of writing, 40.8C in Melbourne. Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong, hit 44.4C, and Alice Springs reached 42C. |
| The hottest place in the country was Onslow, in the Pilbara, with 46.9C. Marree, in northern South Australia, reached 46.7C; Birdsville, in south-west Queensland, 46.3C. | The hottest place in the country was Onslow, in the Pilbara, with 46.9C. Marree, in northern South Australia, reached 46.7C; Birdsville, in south-west Queensland, 46.3C. |
| Jonathan How, forecaster with the bureau’s Australian weather desk, said it was not unusual for all mainland states to reach 40C on the same summer day but it was rare for Tasmania to join them. “It’s not something you see all the time,” he said. | Jonathan How, forecaster with the bureau’s Australian weather desk, said it was not unusual for all mainland states to reach 40C on the same summer day but it was rare for Tasmania to join them. “It’s not something you see all the time,” he said. |
| The list of Tasmanian places to set maximum temperature records for December included Launceston (equalling the previously mark of 34.1C), Cape Bruny (39.2C) and Mount Wellington (28.6C). | The list of Tasmanian places to set maximum temperature records for December included Launceston (equalling the previously mark of 34.1C), Cape Bruny (39.2C) and Mount Wellington (28.6C). |
| In Victoria, there were new December highs at Wilsons Promontory (40.2C), Wangaratta (43.1C) and several centres in fire affected Gippsland including Bairnsdale (43.6C), Orbost (43.1C) and East Sale (43.5C). | In Victoria, there were new December highs at Wilsons Promontory (40.2C), Wangaratta (43.1C) and several centres in fire affected Gippsland including Bairnsdale (43.6C), Orbost (43.1C) and East Sale (43.5C). |