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Australia fires live: NSW, Victoria and SA bushfires rage as PM calls up ADF reserve – latest updates
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 updates
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 updates
He’s asked about the fire generated thunderstorms. The NSW commissioner says that freak weather can flip a ten tonne truck. “A lot of the fire grounds we have already seen fire fighters being withdrawn for safety to shore up and focus on protecting as much as they can that might be coming in the path of that fire. Under these conditions, suppression is unachievable. The focus becomes saving life and property as much as we can”.
The NSW commissioner is asked about reports of people not respecting today’s total fire bans.
He’s blunt.
The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says there are 148 fires burning across the state and 12 are now at the emergency warning alert level. There are another eight fires at the watch and act alert level. He says the greatest concentration of the emergency warning fires are down in the south-eastern quadrant of the state.
He says if emergency warnings are in place it’s too late to leave. “Your option for safety is to shelter as the fire approaches”.
Fitzsimmons says the southerly won’t move into NSW until about 5pm, and won’t hit Sydney until around midnight. “It’s going to be a very long afternoon and evening and, as that southerly approaches, it’s going to be a volatile southerly with wind strengths up to 80 km/h or more. A long, difficult few hours, a dangerous few hours given the amount of emergency alerts out there”.
The NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is addressing reporters now. She says today is as bad as the projections suggested. “In relation to the projections we had this morning, unfortunately they are coming to fruition. We are in for a . long night and I make no bones about that. We are in for a long night and we have still to hit the worst of it”.
As well as the one in Nowra, the NSW RFS says a fire-generated thunderstorm has also formed over the Doubtful Gap Trail in the Snowy Monaro area.
In the NSW southern highlands, an emergency warning has been issued in the Green Wattle Creek (Wollondilly LGA). The advice is fire activity is increasing in the area of Joadja. If you are in the area, it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Still on that fire.
Still on that fire.
Defence assets are active in the Currowan Fire, which looks horrendous.
Defence assets are active in the Currowan Fire, which looks horrendous.
The Illawarra Mercury says 30,627 customers in the Batemans Bay and Moruya region have lost power.
The Illawarra Mercury says 30,627 customers in the Batemans Bay and Moruya region have lost power.
Chilling images from Mike Bowers.
Chilling images from Mike Bowers.
Brett Mason, the SBS political editor, is in the Snowy region with our two Michaels, Bowers and McGowan.
Brett Mason, the SBS political editor, is in the Snowy region with our two Michaels, Bowers and McGowan.
Evacuations underway in Nowra.
Looking seriously grim in that part of the world. That beautiful, glorious part of the world.
Looking seriously grim in that part of the world. That beautiful, glorious part of the world.
Back to Mike Bowers in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Looks like a marathon underway there too.
Back to Mike Bowers in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Looks like a marathon underway there too.
The Bairnsdale incident controllers are asked how long they think the fires can continue to burn for?
The Bairnsdale incident controllers are asked how long they think the fires can continue to burn for?
A long time, is the answer.
A long time, is the answer.
The incident controller in Bairnsdale in Victoria says today has been extremely difficult and there are over 1,000 firefighters in the field. “Low relative humidities, freaky wind conditions coming out of all different directions and temperatures are in the 40C range have tested every resource today.”
He says there have been impacts in the Omeo Valley, but “luckily for the Bairnsdale area and the southern parts of Gippsland, we didn’t see the quite freakish conditions that we saw to the north, and we’ve been able to hold a lot of the southern edge of the Gippsland fires”.
The prime minister has bobbed up on ABC news radio. He’s asked why it has taken so long for the government to announce the response that was unveiled today. Scott Morrison says the government has been respecting the states and their requests, but he said his time in fire grounds this week has persuaded him that the Commonwealth needed to integrate with the state efforts.
While Morrison squabbles with the host on ABC radio, Victorian authorities are providing an update. I’ll bring you that next.
In Canberra, the smoke isn’t too bad right at the moment (famous last words given the situation around the ACT) but my trusty weather app tells me it’s 42C. Reporter Jasper Lindell at the Canberra Times says temperatures in the city hit 43.6C – the highest reading ever recorded in the city, beating a 1968 Canberra Airport record and a 1939 record.
Back to the Snowy region in NSW. Scott Lonard is the RFS group captain in charge of the Adaminaby Complex fire which was upgraded to emergency level a few minutes ago. Lonard told me a little bit earlier that he arrived in the Snowy Mountains at about 11pm last night from Penrith with 10 tankers. Five have been sent to another emergency fire near Cooma and the rest are here.
He’s pretty frank about the prospects of stopping the fire. There are two properties out here on Yaouk Road that he’s worried about – but he won’t send his crews any further in where the forest starts. “We’ll do our best but five trucks for this much space isn’t going to be enough”, he told me.
The fire has been building here just north of the town of Adaminaby for a few hours now and the whole area is thick with smoke. Just before it was upgraded to an emergency level warning, Lonard said he feared it would get worse as the afternoon progresses.
“If you see me running, try to keep up”, he told us.
More vision from eastern Victoria.
With conditions now highly variable as the heat intensifies and the winds change, let’s do a very quick stocktake of events so far today.
Tragically, two more deaths have been confirmed this morning on Kangaroo Island. The Kangaroo Island fire has destroyed much of the Flinders Chase National Park.
Emergency alerts remain current for a number of fire-affected regions in NSW and Victoria, with comprehensive updates from authorities expected a bit later this afternoon.
Scott Morrison has called out the ADF reserve to help manage the disaster and 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 prime minister has also 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.
The NSW RFS says a fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the Currowan fire on the northern edge of the fire near Nowra. “This is a very dangerous situation. Monitor the conditions around you and take appropriate action,” the alert says.
Across the border in Mallacoota it looks like midnight in the middle of the afternoon. I can’t actually watch this short clip without feeling deeply anxious. This is how it looked in Canberra in 2003.
Let’s check Victoria for the latest from VicEmergency.
An emergency warning is being issued for Biggara, Tintaldra, Towong, Towong Upper, Walwa and surrounding communities.
As at 13.00 hours increased fire conditions have been observed. You need to continue to monitor conditions.
The Murray Valley Highway is closed in both directions due to increased potential for impact from the fire.
Fire weather today Saturday 4 January is predicted to be extreme, creating fire storm conditions which may not be survivable.
A wind change is expected late this afternoon or early this evening, which will cause the fire to change direction towards the northeast. Conditions can become very dangerous and unpredictable.
The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
An emergency warning is being issued for Buchan, Buchan South.
There is a bushfire at Buchan Valley that is not yet under control.
Fire activity is increasing in the area.
The Bruthen-Buchan Road south of Buchan is now closed due to fire impact.
It is now too late to leave. Enact your bushfire survival plan now. The safest option is to take shelter indoors.
An emergency warning is being issued for Gelantipy, Murrindal, W Tree.
There is a bushfire at Buchan Valley that is out of control.
This fire is threatening homes and lives.
W Tree, Murrindal and Gelantipy could be impacted at any time.
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.
This Watch & Act message is being issued for Angusvale, Cobbannah, Crooked River, Dargo, Glenaladale, Iguana Creek, Tabberabbera, Wongungarra and surrounds.
The bushfires to the north and east of Dargo and to the east of Glenaladale are continuing to grow and move.
Firefighters will not be able to control these fires in today’s predicted weather conditions.
This Watch and Act replaces the Watch and Act issued at 8.56am.
Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
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.
