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Australia fires live: multiple properties lost in Victoria as NSW faces fresh 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
More than 200 horses spent the night in Bairnsdale saleyards last night while their worried owners camped at the nearby evacuation center or found other places to lay their swags in town.
Melanie McCann and her 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle spend the night on the floor of her workplace in town while fire threatened their property at Nicholson. They moved three horses into the saleyards at 11.30am on Monday and helped a neighbour move theirs.They learned from that same neighbour this morning that their house had been spared.
“We came into town ourselves about 4.30pm and my husband came in at 6pm... no point putting anyone in danger if they find need to be. The saleyards have been providing free board, and in some cases feed, for displaced stock for several days. Some horses have come from as far away as Omeo. There are cattle, goats, sheep, and even a watchful Maremma in the yards.
Johanna Toohey moved four of her horses off her property just north of Bairnsdale, in the path of the Barmouth Spur Fire, on Saturday. They came to the saleyards on Sunday. She spent the night on the floor of a rental property she owns in Bairnsdale, which just happened to be vacant.
“There was no furniture, no power, but it was somewhere to be safe.”
An irate sheep, which she also brought into town along with her dog and cats, spent the night bellowing in the backyard. She returned to get them at 4.30pm, when the column of smoke was looming over the town, then turned the sprinklers on and left. She packed so quickly that she had to make a late-night trip to Kmart to buy underwear.
“My home is safe,” she said. “I have got no water left because I used it all... there is not a drop of water in the house.
This photo was posted about an hour ago at Cobargo in the Bega Valley, NSW.
There are now seven emergency warnings in place in NSW and eight in Victoria.
Samuel McPaul’s colleagues have paid tribute to a “beautiful young man” who loved “putting the community first”.
McPaul, who leaves behind a wife and child due in May, was a skilled mechanic and avid basketballer, who worked as a coach for local kids.
“He did everything for the right reasons,” an RFS spokesman said. “His mother Christine is a wonderful woman who raised him and raised a really good son there.
“He gave a lot of his time to basketball in the area. He was a representative player for Wagga and was actually, at the time, undertaking a fair bit of training and coaching for the kids. Basically, he was putting the community first and what we saw yesterday was just a very unfortunate price to pay for putting the community first.”
“He had a degree in biology or zoology, and then decided to take his hand to being a mechanic,” his RFS colleagues said. “He was a very good mechanic that worked for one of our service providers in Culcairn. And it’s a sad day, when you think about it, Sam probably serviced one of those trucks that he was on and it would have been in good order.
“It is a sad thing for the community, the community of Culcairn, Holbrook and even the greater community.”
Two emergency warnings issued in NSW over the past half hour.Two emergency warnings issued in NSW over the past half hour.
Firefighters in Albury have provided more details on the tragic loss of Samuel McPaul, the volunteer firefighter and soon-to-be father, who died last night.Firefighters in Albury have provided more details on the tragic loss of Samuel McPaul, the volunteer firefighter and soon-to-be father, who died last night.
An RFS spokesman said the truck was hit by a “freakish weather event that had to be seen to be believed”, best described as a “fire tornado”.An RFS spokesman said the truck was hit by a “freakish weather event that had to be seen to be believed”, best described as a “fire tornado”.
McPaul and his crew were sent to a fire in the upper Murray, started by a lightning strike, that grew so large it created its own weather system, known as a pyrocumulonimbus.McPaul and his crew were sent to a fire in the upper Murray, started by a lightning strike, that grew so large it created its own weather system, known as a pyrocumulonimbus.
“That cloud became very unstable,” the spokesman said. “It had a height of around about 8,000 metres and unfortunately, it appears to have collapsed during yesterday’s deteriorating weather, causing erratic fire behaviour and erratic winds at the foot of the fire in all directions.“That cloud became very unstable,” the spokesman said. “It had a height of around about 8,000 metres and unfortunately, it appears to have collapsed during yesterday’s deteriorating weather, causing erratic fire behaviour and erratic winds at the foot of the fire in all directions.
“We had a crew working in a paddock that were trying to muster up some cattle that were caught in the corner of the paddock. They were only 50 metres from a gate that they entered and they were on flat ground with very low fuel.“We had a crew working in a paddock that were trying to muster up some cattle that were caught in the corner of the paddock. They were only 50 metres from a gate that they entered and they were on flat ground with very low fuel.
“The crew decided to move away from that area and, quite unexpectedly, very suddenly, they experienced extreme winds, and what could only be described as a fire tornado, that lifted the back of the truck, fully inverted it and landed it on its roof, trapping three people, three crew that is, and unfortunately, one of them fatally.”“The crew decided to move away from that area and, quite unexpectedly, very suddenly, they experienced extreme winds, and what could only be described as a fire tornado, that lifted the back of the truck, fully inverted it and landed it on its roof, trapping three people, three crew that is, and unfortunately, one of them fatally.”
The conditions were so “freakish”, that veteran firefighters couldn’t believe what they had seen, the spokesman said.The conditions were so “freakish”, that veteran firefighters couldn’t believe what they had seen, the spokesman said.
“Sam was a 28-year-old firefighter ... He was trained and doing everything right on the day when something went wrong and it’s just incredibly unfortunate what happened.“Sam was a 28-year-old firefighter ... He was trained and doing everything right on the day when something went wrong and it’s just incredibly unfortunate what happened.
“The driver was a veteran captain of 35 years-plus experience and after speaking with him in hospital last night, he said the ground he was on was safe.“The driver was a veteran captain of 35 years-plus experience and after speaking with him in hospital last night, he said the ground he was on was safe.
“He thought he was in the right spot, and just this freakish weather event, that would have to be seen to be believed, and even then other veteran firefighters don’t believe what they saw, engulfed that vehicle with flame, and strong winds and literally picked up an 8-tonne truck and flipped it over.”“He thought he was in the right spot, and just this freakish weather event, that would have to be seen to be believed, and even then other veteran firefighters don’t believe what they saw, engulfed that vehicle with flame, and strong winds and literally picked up an 8-tonne truck and flipped it over.”
Updates from Mallacoota.Updates from Mallacoota.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has issued this statement on the death of 28-year-old volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul.The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has issued this statement on the death of 28-year-old volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul.
And others are taking shelter on the beach on the NSW South Coast.And others are taking shelter on the beach on the NSW South Coast.
At 11am, the Victoria premier, Daniel Andrews, will address the media with emergency services officials.At 11am, the Victoria premier, Daniel Andrews, will address the media with emergency services officials.
It was reported yesterday evening that Andrews returned from holiday due to the fires.It was reported yesterday evening that Andrews returned from holiday due to the fires.
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.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.”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.
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.
Across East Gippsland, there are 5,700 homes without power.
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.
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.”
Really frightening updates from Mallacoota.