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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
Fitzsimmons says there is a fire burning right across the Princes Highway towards Bateman’s Bay. 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.
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.
“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.
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’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.
He replies: “Yes. Absolutely.”
Fitzsimmons says there are three people unaccounted for on the south coast. That is two people at Cobargo and one at Belowra.
These are “potential fatalities” and it is believed that these people were “impacted by the fire”.
It is not yet safe to access the scene and so authorities cannot provide more information.
Fitzsimmons says NSW authorities have no plans for evacuations by water at this stage but they are watching the situation.
Some updates from people on the ground in Mallacoota.
And this was posted a little earlier – and it involves a lot of swearing.
From the Victorian premier’s press conference earlier.
Fitzsimmons says there is a fire burning right across the Princes Highway towards Batemans Bay.
We have been seeing some very concerning images coming out of that popular holiday spot.We have been seeing some very concerning images coming out of that popular holiday spot.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is addressing the media. The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, is addressing the media.
There are eight fires burning at emergency level right now, he says.There are eight fires burning at emergency level right now, he says.
The most impacted areas, accoridng to reoprts, are Cobargo, Broulee to Mogo and Fisherman’s Paradise. The most impacted areas, according to reports, are Cobargo, Broulee to Mogo and Fishermans Paradise.
More from the Cobargo area.More from the Cobargo area.
Meanwhile, in NSW, there are some concerning images from Bateman’s Bay.Meanwhile, in NSW, there are some concerning images from Bateman’s Bay.
Here is what we know so far.Here is what we know so far.
16 fires are burning at emergency level across Australia, eight in Victoria and eight in NSW, with the entire East Gippsland region under an emergency alert.16 fires are burning at emergency level across Australia, eight in Victoria and eight in NSW, with the entire East Gippsland region under an emergency alert.
One firefighter has died overnight, and others injured, in a “freakish weather event” near Albury, described as a “fire tornado” that overturned a 10-tonne truck on flat, stable ground.One firefighter has died overnight, and others injured, in a “freakish weather event” near Albury, described as a “fire tornado” that overturned a 10-tonne truck on flat, stable ground.
In Victoria, four people are missing, and premier Daniel Andrews said authorities “have real fears for their safety”.In Victoria, four people are missing, and premier Daniel Andrews said authorities “have real fears for their safety”.
4,000 residents have been evacuated from the town of Mallacoota and are sheltering on the foreshore, as the firefront hit properties this morning. Photos taken from 9am showed the sky pitch black.4,000 residents have been evacuated from the town of Mallacoota and are sheltering on the foreshore, as the firefront hit properties this morning. Photos taken from 9am showed the sky pitch black.
Victoria’s emergency services commissioner, Andrew Crisp, confirmed “significant property losses across all of East Gippsland”.Victoria’s emergency services commissioner, Andrew Crisp, confirmed “significant property losses across all of East Gippsland”.
5,700 homes are without power in East Gippsland, and more than 200,000ha have been burned.5,700 homes are without power in East Gippsland, and more than 200,000ha have been burned.
200 new fires started on Monday, and 60 new fires started from midnight until now. These conditions were worse than predicted, and the bureau of meteorology will be updating its forecast to be worse than originally thought.200 new fires started on Monday, and 60 new fires started from midnight until now. These conditions were worse than predicted, and the bureau of meteorology will be updating its forecast to be worse than originally thought.
In NSW, residents of Cobargo were evacuated as the firefront reached the town and impacted homes.In NSW, residents of Cobargo were evacuated as the firefront reached the town and impacted homes.
People in bushfire prone areas between Batemans Bay and Bega, and also the south coast town of Tathra, have also been told to evacuate.People in bushfire prone areas between Batemans Bay and Bega, and also the south coast town of Tathra, have also been told to evacuate.
Robert Jackson, and his mother and sister, left his 15-acre farm at Bumberrah late Monday after repeated calls from friends and family telling him to get out. “Eventually I thought: fine! I’m leaving! You can stop calling me.
“With him he brought five chickens, two kittens, an adult cat, three Jack Russell terriers, and two cattle dogs. The whole group camped out together across two Land Rovers and a small tent outside the Bairnsdale relief centre. Hundreds of people spent the night inside.
“The chickens seem to be happy, they are still laying eggs,” he said.As of 11am, they have laid three legs.”
He has heard from neighbours that the fire, which significantly impacted Bumberrah, skipped over their place. He plans to return once the road is open.
While the focus today has been on the emergencies in Victoria and NSW, there is also a fire threat in Tasmania, where firefighters worked through the night to protect about 20 properties.
This video was posted on Facebook about 11am. Taken by a resident and sent to their neighbour who has posted it online.
Crisp says there have been 200,000ha burnt or burning across East Gippsland. Separately, it’s been reported there are about 20,000 homes without power in Victoria.
Crisp says there wasn’t an evacuation order for Mallacoota (while other towns were evacuated over Sunday and Monday). They couldn’t move out of the town because of fires in the west, and to the north-east in NSW.
Andrews says the Victorian government has requested assistance from 70 fire fighters from the US and Canada.
Andrews says he has asked the prime minister for assistance from the defence force this morning. The two spoke via text message today.
Warrington is asked what will happen to those who did not evacuate to the foreshore at Mallacoota.
He says people in the town were briefed and knew that they were to move to the beach when sirens sounded. That occurred at 8am.
Fire crews will not be sent to isolated communities, he says.
Those that did not move to the beach were “taking their chances”.
There are homes being lost in and around Mallacoota “as we speak”.
A number of homes have been lost in Mallacoota, but the town is still under attack, CFA chief officer Steve Warrington says.
The town is “pitch black” but three strike teams are standing side by side to protect those who have evacuated to the beach front.
“It is quite scary in that community. The community right now is under threat but we will hold our line and they will be safe and protected.”