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NSW fires live, Victoria bushfires updates and two dead in South Australia as PM calls up ADF reserve – latest news Australia fires live: NSW, Victoria and SA bushfires rage as PM calls up ADF reserve – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Scott Morrison has called up ADF reservists to help in the bushfire crisis. Two people have died in SA fires on Kangaroo Island, as New South Wales and Victoria face more horrendous conditions. Follow live news and latest updatesScott Morrison has called up ADF reservists to help in the bushfire crisis. Two people have died in SA fires on Kangaroo Island, as New South Wales and Victoria face more horrendous conditions. Follow live news and latest updates
Back to NSW, I mentioned the warning for Dunns Road. There are now several warnings current. In addition to the one I mentioned a minute ago:
EMERGENCY WARNING - Currowan Fire (Shoalhaven LGA) The fire has crossed the Shoalhaven River. If you are in the areas of Coolendel and North Nowra or Wandandian, Tomerong, Palmer and Basin View, it is too late to leave.
EMERGENCY WARNING – Clyde Mountain (Eurobodalla LGA) If you are in North Batemans Bay, Surfside, Long Beach, South Durras, Maloneys Beach and Long Beach it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.
EMERGENCY WARNING – Clyde Mountain (Eurobodalla LGA) Areas north of the Moruya River including Mogendoura, Polwombra and across to the coast near Moruya Airport. It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as fire approaches.
EMERGENCY WARNING - Green Wattle Creek (Wollondilly LGA) Fire activity is increasing in the area of Wombeyan Caves, Bullio and surrounding areas. If you are in this area, it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Also: this for traffic in that vicinity.
MOGO TO MORUYA: The Princes Highway is closed in both directions between Tomakin Road and North Head Drive due to bush fire. Broulee Road is also closed. Stay away.
Ominous over the border at Mallacoota too.
The NSW RFS has just issued an emergency warning for Dunns Road (Snowy Valleys LGA). Fire activity has increased in the area of Ellerslie, Adelong and surrounds. It is now too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.
I spent Christmas in the bush between Tilba and Cobargo hoping to escape the heavy smoke in Canberra. My family left 48 hours before disaster struck. Things are looking ominous in Narooma this afternoon, just up the road.
It’s currently 42C in Canberra. My weather app tells me it’s 46C in Sydney and 47C in Penrith in the west of the city.
An update from Helen, who sent me the last blog post while I was watching the prime minister.An update from Helen, who sent me the last blog post while I was watching the prime minister.
Now she tells me: A senior RFS source tells me 20 new fires have broken out between Nowra and Batemans Bay, and that fire crews are being pulled out of the Snowy Mountains, east of Jindabyne. Now she tells me: a senior RFS source says 20 new fires have broken out between Nowra and Batemans Bay, and that fire crews are being pulled out of the Snowy Mountains, east of Jindabyne.
“It’s turned to shit,” he said.“It’s turned to shit,” he said.
Longreach sits along the shore of the Shoalhaven river, the scattering of houses along the single road surrounded by towering trees. It’s a beautiful corner of the world to make your own, but today it’s in literally in the firing line. At one property we find a group of people who have stayed to defend. At one house, three of them are sitting back watching the cricket. Taking comfort from it, just like Morrison said, its wryly noted. Longreach sits along the shore of the Shoalhaven river, the scattering of houses along the single road surrounded by towering trees. It’s a beautiful corner of the world to make your own, but today it’s literally in the firing line. At one property we find a group of people who have stayed to defend. At one house, three of them are sitting back watching the cricket. Taking comfort from it, just like Morrison said, its wryly noted.
They’re not complacent - they’re ready and it’s evident in the advice we’re given about getting into Longreach and later, getting out. They’re all current and former firefighters, and between them Brent Edwards reckon they’ve got about 300 years of firefighting experience. They’re not complacent – they’re ready and it’s evident in the advice we’re given about getting into Longreach and later, getting out. They’re all current and former firefighters, and between them Brent Edwards reckon they’ve got about 300 years of firefighting experience.
“And we’ve all got every bit of equipment known to man,” says retired firefighter, Edwards.“And we’ve all got every bit of equipment known to man,” says retired firefighter, Edwards.
We’ve got full structural uniforms if we need them, we’ve got breathing apparatus. WE’re pretty sorted - Flash has spent three weeks preparing this place. He’s got pumps set up everywhere, plenty of water. George down the bottom has four pumps sitting in his swimming pool. But he’s got a 25 acre paddock, he’s ok. Might get a bit of an ember attack but we’re a bit more exposed here. We’ve got full structural uniforms if we need them, we’ve got breathing apparatus. WE’re pretty sorted – Flash has spent three weeks preparing this place. He’s got pumps set up everywhere, plenty of water. George down the bottom has four pumps sitting in his swimming pool. But he’s got a 25 acre paddock, he’s OK. Might get a bit of an ember attack but we’re a bit more exposed here.
My concern is, as always, we’re for want of a better word experts. And we’ve got everything. What about the poor punters with just a garden hose?”My concern is, as always, we’re for want of a better word experts. And we’ve got everything. What about the poor punters with just a garden hose?”
He says there’s a few people further down with less experience who have stayed.He says there’s a few people further down with less experience who have stayed.
“We’re all sort of old blokes now, there’s a couple of 70-year-olds among us. We’ll get out of dodge. We’ve got one boat down by the river and there’s another bloke coming up the river with another boat if we need to bail.”“We’re all sort of old blokes now, there’s a couple of 70-year-olds among us. We’ll get out of dodge. We’ve got one boat down by the river and there’s another bloke coming up the river with another boat if we need to bail.”
Edwards is the former station commander of the Shoalhaven firestation, and was back here from the Gold Coast visiting his friends. Edwards is the former station commander of the Shoalhaven fire station, and was back here from the Gold Coast visiting his friends.
This situation is “incomparable” to anything he saw in his 35 years as a professional firefighter and a lifetime being a “student of the weather” as a surfer, fisherman and diver.This situation is “incomparable” to anything he saw in his 35 years as a professional firefighter and a lifetime being a “student of the weather” as a surfer, fisherman and diver.
“What’s causing climate change is for another day,” he says.“What’s causing climate change is for another day,” he says.
“They just have to admit that it’s changed dramatically and do something about it.“They just have to admit that it’s changed dramatically and do something about it.
I don’t know how you can have an opinion about science? How do you have an opinion about fact?”I don’t know how you can have an opinion about science? How do you have an opinion about fact?”
The weather is entirely different than it used to be, just look at the lack of southerlies bringing rain this season, he says. Not to mention the wind behaviour in these fires. Across the firegrounds I’ve visited I’ve repeatedly heard about its unpredictability.The weather is entirely different than it used to be, just look at the lack of southerlies bringing rain this season, he says. Not to mention the wind behaviour in these fires. Across the firegrounds I’ve visited I’ve repeatedly heard about its unpredictability.
The conversation moves to the structure of the firefighting services in NSW, the logic of backburning, and funding - another big and complicated conversation for another day. The conversation moves to the structure of the firefighting services in NSW, the logic of backburning, and funding – another big and complicated conversation for another day.
Flash heads outside to “smell the air”, then turns on the pumps and comes back suggesting it’s probably a good time for us to go.Flash heads outside to “smell the air”, then turns on the pumps and comes back suggesting it’s probably a good time for us to go.
Let’s go to Victoria. The state department of environment, land, water and planning has issued an update for Gippsland, saying winds are strengthening and warning that, given the wide spread and sheer number of fires, they may not be able to get to towns to fight all blazes when they hit communities.Let’s go to Victoria. The state department of environment, land, water and planning has issued an update for Gippsland, saying winds are strengthening and warning that, given the wide spread and sheer number of fires, they may not be able to get to towns to fight all blazes when they hit communities.
“Conditions are heating up and wind is getting stronger across the region,” the latest update says. “Areas that have already been impacted may be impacted again- due to patches of unburnt material across the landscape. There is the potential for a number of communities to be impacted today”.“Conditions are heating up and wind is getting stronger across the region,” the latest update says. “Areas that have already been impacted may be impacted again- due to patches of unburnt material across the landscape. There is the potential for a number of communities to be impacted today”.
“Our focus is on protecting people and critical infrastructure in communities – so we will have crews and machinery in place where we can – but cannot guarantee a presence.”“Our focus is on protecting people and critical infrastructure in communities – so we will have crews and machinery in place where we can – but cannot guarantee a presence.”
That fire is within 8 kilometres of Omeo. More details can be found here.That fire is within 8 kilometres of Omeo. More details can be found here.
I might give you some thoughts about all that if time permits, but right now, we need to look what’s happening beyond the prime minister’s courtyard. Hang five. I’ll be back with a situation report on the fires.I might give you some thoughts about all that if time permits, but right now, we need to look what’s happening beyond the prime minister’s courtyard. Hang five. I’ll be back with a situation report on the fires.
There were questions about events in Iran, which I won’t delve into given the focus of the coverage today.There were questions about events in Iran, which I won’t delve into given the focus of the coverage today.
Morrison ended thusly:Morrison ended thusly:
Scott Morrison is pressed on the government’s lack of action on climate change. He’s asked whether he plans to increase the level of ambition.Scott Morrison is pressed on the government’s lack of action on climate change. He’s asked whether he plans to increase the level of ambition.
Morrison treads cautiously. He says the current policy is responsible and balanced. He says the negative feedback on the fire grounds is not about a lack of action on climate change, it’s about heavy fuel loads in bushland.Morrison treads cautiously. He says the current policy is responsible and balanced. He says the negative feedback on the fire grounds is not about a lack of action on climate change, it’s about heavy fuel loads in bushland.
But he sends a broad signal he’ll be raising all of these issues with the premiers. Climate change. Fuel loads. Land clearing. Planning regulations. It’s not entirely clear which issues specifically.But he sends a broad signal he’ll be raising all of these issues with the premiers. Climate change. Fuel loads. Land clearing. Planning regulations. It’s not entirely clear which issues specifically.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
The prime minister says people under duress have mixed emotions and they display them. “These arms have given a lot of hugs in the last three months, in fact almost the last year and a half in which I have been prime minister.”The prime minister says people under duress have mixed emotions and they display them. “These arms have given a lot of hugs in the last three months, in fact almost the last year and a half in which I have been prime minister.”
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison is then pressed on events in Cobargo. The prime minister is asked why he said (a few times now) that he had spoken to the young woman who tried to avoid shaking his hand until he made a commitment to provide more resources to the fire effort, when footage of the incident showed him walking away from her after her comments. I’m sure we’ve all seen that video by now.
Morrison says he spoke to her and to other people in the town.
Q: Will you follow up with her?
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison is asked whether the premiers are on board about the NSC proposals. He says he spoke to them this morning and they were positive. He’s then asked whether the boost to funding for water bombers is ongoing. Morrison says it is.
Morrison is asked about the ongoing health impacts of the smoke.
He says:
The prime minister confirms his planned overseas trips, to India and Japan, are off.
The defence minister is then asked to clarify the extent of the call out of the ADF reserves. Linda Reynolds says the government has estimated up to about 3,000, “but again, it might be less, it depends on what’s actually required as we go forward. At the moment this is open-ended”.
The prime minister is asked where the new water bombers are coming from. He says he’s advised two will be available within seven days and the other will be available within 14 days.
Scott Morrison is asked how worried are you about the risks today. He ignores the specific inquiry and moves to convey empathy. He says he understands how anxious people are, and he says the government will be with them all the way.
The prime minister says the feedback he’s picked up on the ground has led to today’s decisions.
We have moved to questions now.
Q: With the bombers, the RFS chief Shane Fitzsimmons in New South Wales has said today that the federal government rejected the business case a couple of years ago for more of those water bombers. Was that a mistake and how quickly will they be able to actually be tackling the fires in Australia if you are leasing them?
The prime minister brushes the question off. He says the government responded with two separate decisions of $11m which brought it up to the same level of capacity as was sought by that business case. “So that business case was addressed through a different method”.
The prime minister is flanked by the defence minister Linda Reynolds. She makes a point of praising the prime minister.
Linda Reynolds:
Scott Morrison ends his opening salvo by thanking the premiers for their support.
But he says the primary objective today is to keep people safe.
The prime minister says the government will also stand up a national recovery agency “along the lines of what we established for drought and for the response to the North Queensland floods and we’ll have more to say about that in the next few days about those arrangements”.
The prime minister says just around half an hour ago, the governor-general signed off on the call-out of the Australian Defence Force Reserve to “search and bring every possible capability to bear by deploying army brigades to fire affected communities across Australia”.
Morrison says a two-star emergency ADF national support co-ordinator will have national authority over the ADF joint task forces in each of the affected states working in co-operation to support state emergency authorities.
He says the HMAS Adelaide, the navy’s largest amphibious ship, has been readied to join the current ships in supporting the evacuation of citizens from fire affected areas along the coastline. The Adelaide has been loaded up with a bunch of kit.
Morrison says the NSC today committed up to $20m to lease four extra planes to meet any anticipated future requests from the premiers. That will include two long range fixed wings DC-10s with 30,000 litres capacity and two medium range large air tankers with an 11,000 litre capacity.
He says the Commonwealth will fully fund the leasing costs with operational costs to be shared with state and territories as usual as they seek to use those assets.
Scott Morrison:
Having now acknowledged where things stand, Morrison is making a number of announcements.
He says traditionally the Commonwealth’s role in disaster management has been respond to requests, but now there needs to be a more forward leaning approach.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison: