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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
Rapid escalation of the Currowan fire near Sussex Inlet. ABC reporter Selby Stewart said observers “had to flee” as a spot fire “became an inferno in minutes”. NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is speaking now and has confirmed that two people have died in Cobargo.
“It’s been confirmed today that there are two deceased persons in Cobargo,” she said. “The police have confirmed that. A third person is missing with grave concerns for their safety, west of Narooma. Our message is please follow instructions.”
Our photo editor, Jessica Hromas, has put together this composite showing the main street of Cobargo, before and after the fires.
Earlier today, there were grave fears for the Mogo Zoo in NSW, only a few kilometres from the out-of-control fires that are currently destroying homes in Batemans Bay.
None of the animals had time to be evacuated, and the zoo has Australia’s largest collection of primates, as well as lions, tigers and zebras.
Just now zoo director Chad Staples has said all the animals are safe. Those that were small enough – monkeys and red pandas – were scooped up and taken inside.
“Right now in my house there’s animals of all description in all the different rooms,” Staples told the ABC. “Due to the amazing staff here, and a well executed plan, no one is hurt. Not a single animal lost.”
“What we did with the dangerous animals – lions, tigers, orangutans – is we encouraged them to the night den, kept them calm, like nothing was happening, and we were able to protect them at that site.
“The only animals we saw any signs of stress are the giraffe and zebra at a couple of points.”
And the conditions are also easing.
“We were putting fires out on site, a couple of hours ago it felt like armageddon,” said Staples. “But right now we feel like we have got a reprieve, the wind changed and we were able to get on top of it.”
Former journalist Peter Logue and former diplomat Zena Armstrong were at home at Coolagolite outside Cobargo early this morning, “dithering about what to do” according to Logue.
“Then we got a phone call from a local farmer, a long term resident, at about 4.30am and he just said ‘Get out now’, so we left, and as we went outside the red glow was right behind the house, that was the fire that came over the back of us and swept through into Cobargo.”
Their children and a guest found a way to drive through to Canberra. Logue and Armstrong drove to the coast to Bermagui to help defend the home of Armstrong’s mother and step father.
“The RFS and the police were driving around the streets of Bermagui with a loud speaker saying ‘evacuate now, evacuate now’. It was dark like night time and raining burning embers and leaves.
“We evacuated the oldies down to the beach, and then we went back to try to prepare the house...but then the weather changed, the fire started its own weather system, it went from hot wind to really cold, and it started raining..and in the end the fire front didn’t eventuate.”
Logue spoke to Guardian Australia from Bermagui beach where the RFS had just given a briefing at the surf life savers’ club.
“The whole south coast water treatment system is down so we have to boil water, Woolworths is packed with people buying water and emergency supplies, the cafes are all closed because they’ve run out of food, and there’s only one way out to Narooma, but you can’t get any further than there.”
Logue and Armstrong don’t know if there home is still standing. The fire has destroyed much of Cobargo and two residents are missing, in what could be “potential fatalities” according to RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Both Logue and Armstrong are musicians, organisers of the Cobargo folk festival. They have saved their musical instruments, half a dozen bottles of Clonakilla and a bottle of good Irish whisky.
“We are staying here for now,” Logue said. “It looks like a refugee camp down here at the beach, a yuppie refugee camp, with horse floats and people staying in their cars.”
And quite shocking footage of a shopping centre filled with flames in Batemans Bay.
Rapid escalation of the Currowan fire near Sussex Inlet in NSW. ABC reporter Selby Stewart said observers “had to flee” as a spot fire “became an inferno in minutes”.
Albanese has also criticised the City of Sydney’s fireworks scheduled tonight.Albanese has also criticised the City of Sydney’s fireworks scheduled tonight.
“I understand how important the fireworks are for their economy, but I just think at a time like this – I’m not in a position to judge – but I think that it’s really problematic that it’s going ahead. That’s a decision for others.”“I understand how important the fireworks are for their economy, but I just think at a time like this – I’m not in a position to judge – but I think that it’s really problematic that it’s going ahead. That’s a decision for others.”
When asked about Labor’s support for coal, he says “now is not the time to answer questions like that”.When asked about Labor’s support for coal, he says “now is not the time to answer questions like that”.
Asked when the time is, Albanese says “I have been talking about climate change...The truth is that simplistic slogans won’t solve this ... we need to respond to climate change with serious policy, not with slogans.” Asked when the time is, Albanese says “I have been talking about climate change ... The truth is that simplistic slogans won’t solve this ... we need to respond to climate change with serious policy, not with slogans.”
The federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, is speaking now in Brisbane.The federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, is speaking now in Brisbane.
He has paid tribute to Samuel McPaul, the volunteer firefighter who died last night, and says the fire is a national crisis that “requires a national response from the government”.He has paid tribute to Samuel McPaul, the volunteer firefighter who died last night, and says the fire is a national crisis that “requires a national response from the government”.
“We are seeing in the very least dozens, but perhaps hundreds of homes lost... This fire does not respect state boundaries. And I again say this is a national issue. This is a national emergency. And it requires a national response from the government.”“We are seeing in the very least dozens, but perhaps hundreds of homes lost... This fire does not respect state boundaries. And I again say this is a national issue. This is a national emergency. And it requires a national response from the government.”
Albanese adds that people need to listen to the warnings of their local fire authority.Albanese adds that people need to listen to the warnings of their local fire authority.
“It’s a reminder of how important the ABC is and the role that it plays in keeping Australians safe,” he says.“It’s a reminder of how important the ABC is and the role that it plays in keeping Australians safe,” he says.
Reports of homes lost in Batemans Bay, NSW.Reports of homes lost in Batemans Bay, NSW.
Up north, closer to Nowra, residents near Sussex Inlet are evacuating towards the NSW coast, as fires are attacking the Princes Highway in both north and south directions.Up north, closer to Nowra, residents near Sussex Inlet are evacuating towards the NSW coast, as fires are attacking the Princes Highway in both north and south directions.
Meanwhile, back in Victoria:Meanwhile, back in Victoria:
Photos coming in of houses now on fire in Mallacoota.Photos coming in of houses now on fire in Mallacoota.
Despite some speculation in the last few minutes, the NSW transport minister, Andrew Constance, is not missing in the fires.Despite some speculation in the last few minutes, the NSW transport minister, Andrew Constance, is not missing in the fires.
Just 10 minutes ago, Sky News tweeted that Constance was “unaccounted for” in the NSW fires.Just 10 minutes ago, Sky News tweeted that Constance was “unaccounted for” in the NSW fires.
But the ABC in Canberra then confirmed they had just spoken to the minister.But the ABC in Canberra then confirmed they had just spoken to the minister.
Reporter Jordan Hayne said: “I just spoke with Andrew Constance, he is not interested in speaking to the media, but confirmed he is ok for now at least.”Reporter Jordan Hayne said: “I just spoke with Andrew Constance, he is not interested in speaking to the media, but confirmed he is ok for now at least.”
Here’s the scene in Cobargo, NSW, where the main street has been ravaged by fire and two people are missing.Here’s the scene in Cobargo, NSW, where the main street has been ravaged by fire and two people are missing.
On ABC Radio Gippsland we’ve just heard from a local man, Graham.
“We saw a big burst of very big flames in Shady Gully,” he said. “As I speak to you I’m looking across Coull’s Inlet and there are big flames… and they would be impacting houses… Oh wow, that’s not good at all.”
Graham was looking across the centre of town, and said the people on the jetty would be able to see what he’s seeing.
In Tasmania, there are fears that homes have been lost in fires that flared to emergency level yesterday and continue today.
The temperature hit 40C in the state on Monday, and the Pelham fire, 50km north of Hobart, reached emergency. Today cooler conditions allowed firefighters to bring it under control.
“Seventy per cent of the fire ground has been assessed. We’ve got some structural losses,” the TFS chief officer, Chris Arnol, said.
“We’re not sure if any homes have been lost. It could be sheds, it could be homes, we don’t know. Access is difficult with that fire, with smoke conditions and some power infrastructure down.”
Arnol said a “significant” number of structures in the area had been saved.
Dry lightning sparked both fires, with the Bureau of Meteorology recording more than 400 ground strikes.
Kate Bruton and her family experienced how unsafe it was at Swan Reach first-hand.
They were staying with Bruton’s mother at Cabbage Tree for Christmas but decided to evacuate yesterday when they saw the columns of smoke from the Barmouth Spur and W Tree fires.
“We stopped at Orbost first and Orbost was full at the evacuation centre, and it was the same at Lakes Entrance,” Bruton said.
It looked like “armageddon,” she said. “I have been in bushfires all my life... it was unimaginable.” They were advised to drive on to Bairnsdale but got stuck when the Princes Highway closed both ahead and behind them at Swan Reach. The closure was not reported on the VicEmergency or VicTraffic app until after they were stuck.
They parked the caravan near a river and watched embers fall around them, but luckily the road opened and they made it to Bairnsdale.
Everyone at the park had been friendly and helping each other, Bruton said. “As horrible as this is, it is nice.”
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.
Cars were parked bumper to bumper overnight but most had gone by midday, with people 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.