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Australia fires live: Mallacoota fire in Victoria turns sky black as NSW faces bushfires threat - latest updates Australia fires live: Mallacoota fire in Victoria turns sky black as NSW faces bushfires threat - latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Conditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updatesConditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updates
Hundreds of people, both locals and tourists evacuated from Lakes Entrance, spent the night at Howitt Park. It is not an official evacuation point, but many locals told Guardian Australia they were not sure where the official evacuation centre was.
The cars were parked bumper to bumper overnight but most had gone by midday, taking advantage of the brief window in which the Princes Highway was open to get back to their homes.
Among those who remain are Kelly Lane and her 10-year-old son, Connor. They left their home in Swan Reach, which is just over halfway between Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale, late yesterday when their fire advice went from a watch and act to an emergency alert. The call to leave came from a local man who was driving down the street in his tractor bellowing at residents to evacuate.
Lane bought a tent this morning – they didn’t have time last night and another evacuee said Kmart had sold out of tents – and plan to stay at Howitt Park again tonight.
“It is still unsafe around my place,” Lane said.
This photo from Mallacoota is being widely shared on social media. Taken by a resident, it shows a family out on a boat escaping the fire, in the middle of the day.
And read this fuller report on the situation in Mallacoota from Helen Davidson.
The CFA incident controller Ben Rankin has just been on ABC Radio in East Gippsland.
He says that fire is moving around to Orbost, and that in Mallacoota there “have been quite a number of houses impacted”.
“It is not a day to relax at all,” Rankin said. “It is a day to adhere to the warnings that are coming out.”
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, confirmed on Tuesday morning he had requested Australian Defence Force assistance as fires burned throughout the state’s east, threatening homes and lives.
He said he had spoken by text message with the prime minister, Scott Morrison, to discuss additional support, such as the use of the navy to help provide food, water and power to isolated communities.
“We’ve made some requests to the (Australian Defence Force) for their support, both in terms of making damage assessments but also some of these isolated communities can be accessed by sea,” he said.
“We have a range of plans in place ourselves but there may be ways the ADF can support us.”
He added: “There’s a prospect of whatever ADF support that can be provided we’ll be happy to use it. And we’re having detailed discussions with ADF to discuss how to best use their resources.”
Asked what form the additional military assistance might take and whether naval supply ships might be involved, Andrews said: “That type of thing. I wouldn’t be specific to the point of ruling anything out.
“There’s some choppers for instance, they’ve got some aircraft that are bigger. They’ve got a range of things that they can support us with.”
Victoria has also asked for 70 firefighters from Canada and the United States, Andrews confirmed.
Matt Manning is out on a boat, 3km from Mallacoota, waiting out the fires. He tells me there are about 30 boats out there with him, his partner, their two friends, and his dog. Most of them are locals.Matt Manning is out on a boat, 3km from Mallacoota, waiting out the fires. He tells me there are about 30 boats out there with him, his partner, their two friends, and his dog. Most of them are locals.
“I packed the boat and prepared the boat yesterday morning. I left it tied up in the water ready to bail, and we sat it out – we were camping in the foreshore camp park. We sat it out hour by hour, and about one o’clock decided to go down to the boat until we decided to bail out to the lake.“I packed the boat and prepared the boat yesterday morning. I left it tied up in the water ready to bail, and we sat it out – we were camping in the foreshore camp park. We sat it out hour by hour, and about one o’clock decided to go down to the boat until we decided to bail out to the lake.
“The glow in the sky was just unreal. We decided to pull the pin at about three o’clock. We’re pretty safe here, hopefully we don’t get any hot embers. There’s a lot of debris and ash but so far there’s no hot embers. Winds about 30-40 knots coming from the south.“The glow in the sky was just unreal. We decided to pull the pin at about three o’clock. We’re pretty safe here, hopefully we don’t get any hot embers. There’s a lot of debris and ash but so far there’s no hot embers. Winds about 30-40 knots coming from the south.
“I’ve got two mates who stayed at the camp park, they didn’t want to come with us. They said they’re fine, they’re country boys and have fought a few fires. I spoke to them about 10 minutes ago, and they’re fine. A few tents have gone up.”“I’ve got two mates who stayed at the camp park, they didn’t want to come with us. They said they’re fine, they’re country boys and have fought a few fires. I spoke to them about 10 minutes ago, and they’re fine. A few tents have gone up.”
Barry Wear, who is camped in a caravan outside the Bairnsdale relief centre, has just heard some good news. He lives at Sarsfield, one of the communities that Daniel Andrews confirmed was hardest hit by the bushfires. About 20 houses have been lost, Wear says. But, as of this morning, his house is not one of them.Barry Wear, who is camped in a caravan outside the Bairnsdale relief centre, has just heard some good news. He lives at Sarsfield, one of the communities that Daniel Andrews confirmed was hardest hit by the bushfires. About 20 houses have been lost, Wear says. But, as of this morning, his house is not one of them.
“I was sure last night that I had lost my house but this morning a neighbour knocked on my door and said my house was safe,” he said.“I was sure last night that I had lost my house but this morning a neighbour knocked on my door and said my house was safe,” he said.
“I don’t know how. My house, which is cedar, and my shed with all my tools in it are still standing, but my garage – well it’s really a machinery shed – which is metal, that melted.”“I don’t know how. My house, which is cedar, and my shed with all my tools in it are still standing, but my garage – well it’s really a machinery shed – which is metal, that melted.”
Wear lives on High Street in Sarsfield and said he had been told by those who remained that all the houses on their street were safe. Others were not so lucky. Heggars Road was heavily impacted, he says.Wear lives on High Street in Sarsfield and said he had been told by those who remained that all the houses on their street were safe. Others were not so lucky. Heggars Road was heavily impacted, he says.
Wear said he would not return home until it was safe. Fires are still burning around the town.Wear said he would not return home until it was safe. Fires are still burning around the town.
“I just brought the essentials with me,” he says, which includes two dogs and three guitars. “I have enough food in the fridge and two casks of wine. Well, one – I finished one last night.”“I just brought the essentials with me,” he says, which includes two dogs and three guitars. “I have enough food in the fridge and two casks of wine. Well, one – I finished one last night.”
Along with thousands of other Canberrans, I am holidaying on the NSW south coast – as I have done ever year since I can remember. At 6am I was woken by a text to evacuate. We fled south to Moruya, with nearby Mogo – perhaps 5km from the sea – alight. We had been warned that today would be bad, but the overnight fire spread exceeded the worst estimations.Along with thousands of other Canberrans, I am holidaying on the NSW south coast – as I have done ever year since I can remember. At 6am I was woken by a text to evacuate. We fled south to Moruya, with nearby Mogo – perhaps 5km from the sea – alight. We had been warned that today would be bad, but the overnight fire spread exceeded the worst estimations.
The otherwise sleepy town of Moruya was soon bustling with locals and holidaymakers, dazed and concerned as we saw the giant smoke front head in our direction. People were glued to their phones, constantly refreshing the live fire map, wondering if their house was burning while we were stranded in the car parks, green spaces and the public pool of Moruya, helpless. As the sky became darker the mood soured; at one point we could see flames speed down a ridge in the distance.The otherwise sleepy town of Moruya was soon bustling with locals and holidaymakers, dazed and concerned as we saw the giant smoke front head in our direction. People were glued to their phones, constantly refreshing the live fire map, wondering if their house was burning while we were stranded in the car parks, green spaces and the public pool of Moruya, helpless. As the sky became darker the mood soured; at one point we could see flames speed down a ridge in the distance.
But amid the gloom, there were bright spots of humanity. The pool gave out ice creams, a local Thai restaurant cooked free meals. Strangers swapped anecdotes and the latest information.But amid the gloom, there were bright spots of humanity. The pool gave out ice creams, a local Thai restaurant cooked free meals. Strangers swapped anecdotes and the latest information.
For decades, Canberrans and locals have made happy summer memories on the south coast. Now we are stuck in a nightmare.For decades, Canberrans and locals have made happy summer memories on the south coast. Now we are stuck in a nightmare.
Apocalyptic scenes in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. Residents huddled on the beach similar to Mallacoota in Victoria.Apocalyptic scenes in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast. Residents huddled on the beach similar to Mallacoota in Victoria.
Fitzsimmons also says that fires are stretching all the way from Nowra to the Victorian border.Fitzsimmons also says that fires are stretching all the way from Nowra to the Victorian border.
And the southerly change coming will make things worse, spreading fires – previously heading east – in a northerly direction. This poses “an additional threat” to populations, he says.And the southerly change coming will make things worse, spreading fires – previously heading east – in a northerly direction. This poses “an additional threat” to populations, he says.
The scope of these fires is huge.The scope of these fires is huge.
“Anywhere from Nowra down to the Victorian border, right out to places like Tumut and Tumbarumba, across the ranges – we’re seeing aggressive and dangerous fire behaviour,” Fitzsimmons says.“Anywhere from Nowra down to the Victorian border, right out to places like Tumut and Tumbarumba, across the ranges – we’re seeing aggressive and dangerous fire behaviour,” Fitzsimmons says.
This is Naaman Zhou taking over the blog from Luke Henriques-Gomes, who has done some incredible work today.This is Naaman Zhou taking over the blog from Luke Henriques-Gomes, who has done some incredible work today.
In that press conference, the NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, also confirmed there was “significant impact, damage and destruction” on the NSW south coast, including schools hit by fire.In that press conference, the NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, also confirmed there was “significant impact, damage and destruction” on the NSW south coast, including schools hit by fire.
“We’re seeing fire impacting onto communities, people’s homes and other infrastructure,” he said, in towns like Cobargo, Broulee, Mogo and Fishermans Paradise.“We’re seeing fire impacting onto communities, people’s homes and other infrastructure,” he said, in towns like Cobargo, Broulee, Mogo and Fishermans Paradise.
“We’ve had reports of schools impacted. We’ve had reports of businesses and some of the small town centres being impacted by these fires.”“We’ve had reports of schools impacted. We’ve had reports of businesses and some of the small town centres being impacted by these fires.”
Shane Fitzsimmons is asked if this is the worst bushfire season on record for New South Wales.Shane Fitzsimmons is asked if this is the worst bushfire season on record for New South Wales.
He replies: “Yes. Absolutely.”He replies: “Yes. Absolutely.”