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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 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
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 “A lot of the fire grounds we have already seen fire fighters being withdrawn for safety to shore up and focus on protecting as much as they can that might be coming in the path of that fire.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”. While I’m on images. The NSW premier. We are still to hit the worst of it.
Trying to keep clicking out of my ears. Really trying, because there’s a disaster to focus on.
The disaster, through the lens of Mike Bowers.
In Canberra, the ACT chief minister Andrew Barr has just given a brief update for residents of the capital. The short version of the briefing is we are ok now, but stay alert, given Canberra has recorded its hottest ever day, and the wind is whipping, and the fires are close, and many of us have seen these conditions before. In 2003.
Andrew Barr:
Speaking of gritted teeth, the commonwealth commitments now have a backing track. And clicking.
Let’s press on.
ADF personnel are also at this briefing and the NSW commissioner says the state has spoken to the commonwealth to ensure today’s commitments by Scott Morrison don’t compromise the current containment efforts.
I’ll let the fire commissioner explain.
The premier is also asked about a story in the Daily Telegraph today suggesting that NSW had knocked back commonwealth support during this crisis.
If you didn’t detect the gritted teeth from the fire commissioner in this last answer (and I must say I did), you can certainly detect gritted teeth from the premier. “Not true. Not true”, the premier says. The fire chief echoes that. Not. Happy.
He’s asked about the fire generated thunderstorms. The NSW commissioner says that freak weather can flip a 10-tonne truck. “A lot of the fire grounds we have already seen firefighters 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.The NSW commissioner is asked about reports of people not respecting today’s total fire bans.
He’s blunt.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. 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”.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”. 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 80km/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”. 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.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.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.
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.