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Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face bushfires threat – latest updates Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face 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
“We’ve got fires burning from the Queensland border all the way down to the Victorian border, across the great dividing range,” says Fitzsimmons.
There have been multiple challenges, he says, noting that today conditions didn’t allow for the flying of some aerial support craft.
“We are expecting a return to more hot dangerous and difficult conditions ... and we can expect some fairly widespread severe fire danger ratings.”
He notes the dry landscape, the “moisture depleted” landscape, in a state which is “100% drought affected”. There’s been a significant number of pyroconvective activity and the tragic consequences of that.
“We have seen now confirmed eight civilian fatalities, three firefighter fatalities, and we have grave concerns for another civilian down in the southeast of New South Wales,” he says.
“We have seen over 900 homes destroyed and over 3.6m hectares of country burnt so far this season. We have still months to go of summer. Absolutely, this is up to be one of the worst, if not the worst fire season we have experienced here in New South Wales.”
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is giving an update from its Sydney headquarters. Here are the main points:
There are more than 100 fires burning in the state, more than half uncontained: 2,200 firefighters are in the field.
The southerly change is currently at Nowra and is expected in the Sydney basin between 6pm and 7pm.
Ahead of that, the WNW winds are up to about 70 km/h, but the southerly is also bringing damaging gusts up to 80km, although it will lose strength as it moves up the coast.
That cold front is halving temperatures in some areas.
Batemans Bay and other areas – particularly adjacent to the coast – are seeing some moderation once the change goes through, but the southern ranges are not benefiting from it.
Along the coastal strip from Nowra towards Bega, “there’s communities all the way along there that are exposed and vulnerable” as well as inland, across the Snowy Mountains plains there are a number of problematic fires, and into the west and south at the cross-border Green Valley fire.
The Green Valley fire is expected to move into the Kosciuszko national park.
The Charmhaven fire is burning east-northeasterly, and is spreading towards more populated areas in the Woongarrah area. Fire crews are hoping to get it under control overnight.
There are significant power challenges and disruptions to utilities in fire affected areas.
There are dangerous trees and fires burning on both sides of multiple arterial roads.
The RFS received about 68 applications for fire ban exemptions (including the Sydney NYE fireworks). They said yes to about 30.
The Charmhaven fire on the NSW Central Coast is a new one today. It’s an emergency level blaze and has destroyed at least 83 hectares already.
Crews are on the scene working to protect property and people in Mona, Arizona and Allinga Hiawatha Road, were earlier told to take shelter because it is too late to leave.
The Bureau of Meteorology says thunderstorms could make the NSW bushfire situation even worse, adding to soaring temperatures and gusty winds, AAP reports.
Thunderstorms forecast to develop in NSW could make an already dangerous bushfire situation even worse, the bureau says.
Bureau of Meteorology NSW state manager Jane Golding says the state is experiencing heatwave conditions on Tuesday with soaring temperatures, gusty winds and smoke pollution in many areas.
Thunderstorms could exacerbate the situation later on if lightning strikes spark new fires, Golding told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
“Over the course of today we are expecting general thunderstorms to develop – they are going to cause a few problems around the fire grounds,” she said.
Lightning strikes sparked more than a dozen blazes in Victoria’s alpine region on Tuesday while thunderstorms have started spot fires in Tasmania.
A southerly change sweeping up the NSW coast would drop temperatures in the evening, with bushfire conditions forecast to ease on Wednesday, according to the bureau.
“In much of the state we are expecting markedly cooler conditions tomorrow,” Golding said.
“But up in the northwest we are still expecting really warm temperatures and increased fire dangers.”
In the Aboriginal community of Lake Tyers, about 35 people chose to stay on country when they came under threat from the East Gippsland fires, NITV reports.In the Aboriginal community of Lake Tyers, about 35 people chose to stay on country when they came under threat from the East Gippsland fires, NITV reports.
“We’re a small community of 250 Aboriginal people, 46 houses out there. There’s roughly 35 community [members] who have stayed,” traditional owner Kerry Tregonning said.“We’re a small community of 250 Aboriginal people, 46 houses out there. There’s roughly 35 community [members] who have stayed,” traditional owner Kerry Tregonning said.
“Most of them were born out here, they have no transport, some of them are hooked up to oxygen, there’s a lot of little things.”“Most of them were born out here, they have no transport, some of them are hooked up to oxygen, there’s a lot of little things.”
There is an endless stream of jaw-dropping photos and videos on social media today.There is an endless stream of jaw-dropping photos and videos on social media today.
An eerie darkness has settled over the New South Wales south coast town of Huskisson, as bushfires in the surrounding areas close in around the town.An eerie darkness has settled over the New South Wales south coast town of Huskisson, as bushfires in the surrounding areas close in around the town.
By 3pm the town was entirely covered by a thick haze that made it feel more like 8pm.By 3pm the town was entirely covered by a thick haze that made it feel more like 8pm.
Beaches that usually at this time of day would be crowded with tourists are abandoned, and at the main pub in town people watched nervously as ash fell from the sky and the last sunlight disappeared behind the smoky haze.Beaches that usually at this time of day would be crowded with tourists are abandoned, and at the main pub in town people watched nervously as ash fell from the sky and the last sunlight disappeared behind the smoky haze.
Many people have already left, but at about lunchtime authorities closed the Princes Highway and the Rural Fire Service sent text messages warning visitors to seek shelter as the fire arrived.Many people have already left, but at about lunchtime authorities closed the Princes Highway and the Rural Fire Service sent text messages warning visitors to seek shelter as the fire arrived.
Suffice to say New Year’s Eve plans have taken a hit.Suffice to say New Year’s Eve plans have taken a hit.
The fireworks had already been cancelled, but when we drove past the beach where the celebrations are usually held about 20 minutes ago it was completely empty.The fireworks had already been cancelled, but when we drove past the beach where the celebrations are usually held about 20 minutes ago it was completely empty.
At the apartment where I’m staying we’re all gathered around the air purifier and watching the rolling updates on ABC 24.At the apartment where I’m staying we’re all gathered around the air purifier and watching the rolling updates on ABC 24.
In NSW there are eight emergency level fires and nine watch and act level fires.In NSW there are eight emergency level fires and nine watch and act level fires.
Seven of the emergency fires are in the south of the state, and one is on the Central Coast at Charmhaven.Seven of the emergency fires are in the south of the state, and one is on the Central Coast at Charmhaven.
In Victoria there are eight emergency warnings, all in the East Gippsland region except for one east of Albury (which has come from over the border in NSW where it is referred to by a different name)In Victoria there are eight emergency warnings, all in the East Gippsland region except for one east of Albury (which has come from over the border in NSW where it is referred to by a different name)
Throughout the afternoon and evening we’ll do our best to bring you the latest on all of them.Throughout the afternoon and evening we’ll do our best to bring you the latest on all of them.
Journalist and author Melissa Pouliot is in Wallagoot, near Tathra, living through her third “too close for comfort” experience with bushfires in a decade.Journalist and author Melissa Pouliot is in Wallagoot, near Tathra, living through her third “too close for comfort” experience with bushfires in a decade.
“We are packed, well prepared and informed,” she tweeted.“We are packed, well prepared and informed,” she tweeted.
After the March 2018 fires in Tathra, she organised the Book Love for Tathra appeal to return books to the 70 local families who lost their homes and home libraries in that fire.After the March 2018 fires in Tathra, she organised the Book Love for Tathra appeal to return books to the 70 local families who lost their homes and home libraries in that fire.
She says she was “also part of the black Saturday fires. I was living just out of Horsham, one kilometre from where that fire started, which destroyed Horsham golf club and surrounding houses”.She says she was “also part of the black Saturday fires. I was living just out of Horsham, one kilometre from where that fire started, which destroyed Horsham golf club and surrounding houses”.
This is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the rest of the day.This is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the rest of the day.
The RACV says ongoing mobile coverage issues are affecting callouts for RACV emegency roadside assistance. This applies to Mallacoota, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Bruthen and Corryong.The RACV says ongoing mobile coverage issues are affecting callouts for RACV emegency roadside assistance. This applies to Mallacoota, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Bruthen and Corryong.
Members needing emergency assistance should contact 000.Members needing emergency assistance should contact 000.
The prime minister Scott Morrison has just announced the payments for volunteer firefighters will be extended to Queensland. It matches the payments offered to NSW last week.The prime minister Scott Morrison has just announced the payments for volunteer firefighters will be extended to Queensland. It matches the payments offered to NSW last week.
Morrison says it’s available to any state that asks for it.Morrison says it’s available to any state that asks for it.
In that press conference, Victorian emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp also went into more detail about what the defence force would do to help.In that press conference, Victorian emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp also went into more detail about what the defence force would do to help.
One of their jobs will be to undertake “initial impact assessments” throughout East Gippsland. That will help the CFA count the cost and damage of the fires.One of their jobs will be to undertake “initial impact assessments” throughout East Gippsland. That will help the CFA count the cost and damage of the fires.
“We expect those additional Australian defence force people to be on the ground tomorrow working with our Metropolitan Fire Brigade,” he said.“We expect those additional Australian defence force people to be on the ground tomorrow working with our Metropolitan Fire Brigade,” he said.
Another role is still under discussion, but the ADF could help support isolated communities, with new airplanes and helicopters brought in.Another role is still under discussion, but the ADF could help support isolated communities, with new airplanes and helicopters brought in.
“We’ve formalised two requests through Emergency Management Australia to the Australian defence force,” Crisp said. “”We’ve also been working through what some first support from the ADF could look like.“We’ve formalised two requests through Emergency Management Australia to the Australian defence force,” Crisp said. “”We’ve also been working through what some first support from the ADF could look like.
“We will continue to work through that with the ADF and they’ve assured us they’ll provide whatever support they can”.“We will continue to work through that with the ADF and they’ve assured us they’ll provide whatever support they can”.
It has been pointed out that the NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, announced on Friday he would be going on holiday to Europe.It has been pointed out that the NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, announced on Friday he would be going on holiday to Europe.
He promised he would receive two briefings a day, and would return should the bushfire situation “demand it”. At a press conference on Tuesday, the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, deflected questions about the minister’s whereabouts. “At the end of the day, the buck stops with me,” she said. “I’m the premier.”Berejiklian noted the acting minister, the prisons minister Anthony Roberts, was with her. “I feel completely supported,” she said.He promised he would receive two briefings a day, and would return should the bushfire situation “demand it”. At a press conference on Tuesday, the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, deflected questions about the minister’s whereabouts. “At the end of the day, the buck stops with me,” she said. “I’m the premier.”Berejiklian noted the acting minister, the prisons minister Anthony Roberts, was with her. “I feel completely supported,” she said.
Elliott announced his holiday shortly after the prime minister, Scott Morrison, apologised for flying out to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Morrison subsequently returned home early. The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, returned from holiday yesterday as fires burned out of control in the state’s east.Elliott announced his holiday shortly after the prime minister, Scott Morrison, apologised for flying out to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Morrison subsequently returned home early. The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, returned from holiday yesterday as fires burned out of control in the state’s east.
Two people were confirmed dead at Cobargo – believed to be father and son – and grave fears are held for a third west of Narooma.Two people were confirmed dead at Cobargo – believed to be father and son – and grave fears are held for a third west of Narooma.
On Tuesday, Berejilkian would not be drawn on Elliott’s role. “I ask everybody to focus on what’s important – protecting life and property.”On Tuesday, Berejilkian would not be drawn on Elliott’s role. “I ask everybody to focus on what’s important – protecting life and property.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Elliott’s office.Guardian Australia has contacted Elliott’s office.
CFA chief officer Steve Warrington has some “relatively good news” for Mallacoota.CFA chief officer Steve Warrington has some “relatively good news” for Mallacoota.
“The wind change has gone through and the major fire front has now bypassed that town,” he says.“The wind change has gone through and the major fire front has now bypassed that town,” he says.
“I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced. So that is good news for us.“I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced. So that is good news for us.
“But having said that, there are still active fires in that area and they’re still actively extinguishing houses that have burnt down on the outskirts of Mallacoota.”“But having said that, there are still active fires in that area and they’re still actively extinguishing houses that have burnt down on the outskirts of Mallacoota.”
He also adds that the town now remains isolated, which is a concern.He also adds that the town now remains isolated, which is a concern.
It’s a similar state in Corryong – the main fire front has passed but the town is still isolated and ringed by fire.It’s a similar state in Corryong – the main fire front has passed but the town is still isolated and ringed by fire.