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Australia fires live: multiple properties lost in Victoria as NSW faces fresh bushfires threat - latest updates Australia fires live: multiple properties lost in Victoria as NSW faces fresh bushfires threat - latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Extreme temperatures forecast to move north to NSW after a devastating day in the Victorian region of East Gippsland and the death of a New South Wales firefighter east of Albury. Follow live news and latest updatesExtreme temperatures forecast to move north to NSW after a devastating day in the Victorian region of East Gippsland and the death of a New South Wales firefighter east of Albury. Follow live news and latest updates
Mark tells ABC Gippsland there is about 5,000 down at the main boat ramp and community centre. The town was pitch black but half the sky is now red. The line is crackling.
There are ambulances and fire brigades patrolling the area. “The car park is just completely chockers with vehicles.”
Winterson says she knows that her house won’t survive. “I’ve just accepted that.” She earlier ABC Gippsland her home was right in the centre of the fire path.
She now says there is now zero visibility and glowing embers. “It’s starting to look like fireworks night.”
She says her brick building of the radio studio is fairly new.
“It has a metal roof. The only wood is withinthe internal structure. We have double glazing on the studio windows. And we will be keeping all internal doors shut. We’ve got as much chance, really, as anybody else at the moment and now the ember attack is really starting to... It’s starting to look like fireworks night.”
Francesca Winterson, who is a presenter on a local radio station in Mallacoota, is speaking on ABC News now.
“We’ve been broadcasting for 48 hours without a break and we’re all very tired,” she says. “Now we are here in the station and I’m just watching my town burn.”
“I’m now seeing live ash burning down the main street and landing into the dry.”
She is asked if she needs to leave the call.
“I can’t go anywhere.”
I have been speaking with Kelly, who is on the beach at Mallacoota. She says there are about 20 boats around her. The family beside her has a nine-month-old baby.
“It’s dark and gloomy with burning embers seen out here in the past hour,” she said.
“We can see flashing lights towards Mallacoota but no visible flames as yet. It’s strange how we got here at four yesterday afternoon and it was stinking hot and now it’s bloody cold.
“That has caught a lot of people out by not having the right clothing. We [came] out in our little boat with my wife and two boys and three dogs. Luckily for us we have a big swag so we are out of the weather slightly.
There is a new emergency warning in place for Cabbage Tree Creek.
This Emergency Warning is being issued for Cabbage Tree Creek and Brodribb River and surrounds, Bellbird Creek, Bete Bolong, Cape Conran, Corringle, Jarrahmond, Manorina, Marlo, Murrungowar, Newmerella, Nurran, Orbost, Simpsons Creek, Tabbara, Waygara.
This bushfire is approximately 4km from Cabbage Tree Creek heading in a North Easterly direction, the fire front is halfway between Brodribb River and Cabbage Tree. The fire is about to cross the Princes Highway.
This bushfire could impact Cabbage Tree any time within the next 30 minutes.
Ash and embers are falling in nearby communities which can potentially start spot fires.
The Princes Highway is closed between Bairnsdale and Genoa.
The wind has shifted to a south-westerly direction.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.
The Orbost Cricket Club in Nicholson Street has been set up as an assembly area for those in nearby communities who wish to gather within the township if you do not have any safer options.
Further to the caller to ABC Gippsland who confirmed homes lost in Sarsfield, there have been images coming out of that town.Further to the caller to ABC Gippsland who confirmed homes lost in Sarsfield, there have been images coming out of that town.
In Mallacoota, 4,000 residents have been evacuated to the foreshore as they wait for the fire to hit. Some locals have told ABC Radio that the town is already being impacted. Others are sheltering at the community centre.In Mallacoota, 4,000 residents have been evacuated to the foreshore as they wait for the fire to hit. Some locals have told ABC Radio that the town is already being impacted. Others are sheltering at the community centre.
Those in the town have reported that it is pitch black, aside from flashing lights. They have reported sirens are blaring.Those in the town have reported that it is pitch black, aside from flashing lights. They have reported sirens are blaring.
Across East Gippsland, there are 5,700 homes without power.Across East Gippsland, there are 5,700 homes without power.
In the Blue Mountains.In the Blue Mountains.
On ABC Radio Gippsland, Joe says he has driven through Sarsfield, north of Lakes Entrance, and near Bruthen. The power and phone lines are down in Bruthen.On ABC Radio Gippsland, Joe says he has driven through Sarsfield, north of Lakes Entrance, and near Bruthen. The power and phone lines are down in Bruthen.
He says: “I was just shocked with what I saw. There seems to be quite a few houses burned. There were still ... trees and hay sheds on fire.He says: “I was just shocked with what I saw. There seems to be quite a few houses burned. There were still ... trees and hay sheds on fire.
“I was just feeling relieved for myself but in total shock for the people who’ve suffered losses [of property]. If there have been no serious injuries or deaths that’s just a miracle.”“I was just feeling relieved for myself but in total shock for the people who’ve suffered losses [of property]. If there have been no serious injuries or deaths that’s just a miracle.”
Really frightening updates from Mallacoota.Really frightening updates from Mallacoota.
People in Mallacoota have been providing updates on Twitter.
Authorities have updated the emergency warning for Mallacoota. It says:
There are currently two bushfires that are not yet under control.
One fire is currently travelling from Wingan River in an easterly direction towards Karbeethong with spotting ahead of the fire. The fire front is predicted to impact the Mallacoota township within the next 30 minutes.
The second fire is travelling from Goongerah in a south-easterly direction towards Chandlers Creek
Ash and embers are falling ahead of the main fires, which may cause spot fires.
Nationals MP Darren Chester, who represents Gippsland, says he just got off the phone with a friend in the fire-threatened town of Mallacoota.
He tells the ABC: “I was talking to a mate in Mallacoota, he says it’s like midnight there, it’s pitch black. They have a lot of smoke. They have embers falling.
“At this stage he was saying to me that they are burnt leaves, not direct embers in terms of likely to start new fires, but they’re in the firing line, so to speak, and along the south coast there’s more issues.”
A few more points from Shane Fitzsimmons’ press briefing.
100 fires are burning in NSW, including five at emergency level, concentrated in southern NSW.
The fires were “extraordinary” overnight, exceeding predictions. BoM will update forecast to be worse than original prediction.
The full quote from Shane Fitzsimmons earlier:
Fitzsimmons gives more details on the accident yesterday.
He says crews at the scene described the winds that tipped McPaul’s truck as a “fire tornado”, which resulted in “cyclonic winds” that moved across the fire ground and lifted up a 10 tonne fire truck and flipped it on the roof.
Those inside were trapped, and McPaul was killed in the process.
“I have to pay my respects and admiration to Sam’s fellow crew and those that stayed behind,” Fitzsimmons said. “They weren’t leaving Sam there until police and, of course, the local fire and rescue crew, who so professionally and with respect and dignity worked with police to ensure Sam got out of the vehicle wreckage and was transported away from that fire scene.”
Fitzsimmons says three other volunteers were injured. Two have been released from hospital, but a third is at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with serious injuries, including burns.
Shane Fitzsimmons, the NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, confirms the man killed at Albury yesterday is 28-year-old Samuel McPaul.
Fitzsimmons says McPaul, of Holbrook, was “well respected and admired throughout the local community and in his local brigade”.
He leaves behind his wife, Megan, who is pregnant with their first child, due 4 May. The couple married 18 months ago.
“Our hearts are breaking for Sam’s family,” Fitzsimmons says.
Turning her attention to the current fire threat, the premier says the South Coast and southern NSW is “under heavy threat” today.
She notes there are five fires at emergency level this early in the day.
“There will be road closures in southern NewSouth Wales due to the fires,” she says.
“We need everybody to act as responsibly as possible, as cautiously as possible, and please don’t think you’re the expert. Take the experts’ advice. We don’t want anyone to get in harm’s way. Your actions may unintentionally harm so many others. That’s the last thing we want to see today.”
The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian is speaking now to the media.
She extends her condolences to the NSW RFS volunteer who died in a truck accident at Albury-Wodonga yesterday.
Three others were injured, she says.
The premier says the RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons spent the night supporting the family of the volunteer who was killed.