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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
(30 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
Not that we need an illustration to tell us why power assets have been compromised, but this short clip from Mike Bowers puts you in the fire ground. Let’s take stock of conditions in Victoria by recapping the updates and alerts. There hasn’t been a central update from the premier and emergency management authorities for some hours. Apparently that will happen soon. In the interim.
An Emergency Warning is being issued for Bendoc, Bendoc North, Bendoc Upper, Bonang, Buldah, Cabanandra, Club Terrace, Combienbar, Deddick Valley, Delegate River, Dellicknora, Errinundra, Goongerah, Haydens Bog, Nurran, Roaring Camp, Tubbut, Yalmy. It is now too late to leave. This fire is threatening homes and lives.
An Emergency Warning is being issued for Castleburn, Cobbannah, Cowa, Crooked River, Dargo, Grant, Shepherdson, Tabberabbera, Talbotville, Waterford, Wongungarra, Treasures. There are large bushfires north and east of Dargo, Tabberabbera and surrounds that are out of control. Spotfires are starting about 10kms north of Dargo, and 10kms east of Tabberarabbera ahead of the main fires. These fires could impact Dargo, Tabberabbera and surrounding areas any time between 6pm and 8pm. Severe thunderstorms are likely to continue producing damaging, locally destructive winds in Dargo and surrounding communities this afternoon and evening.
An Emergency Warning is being issued for Suggan Buggan, Wulgulmerang, Wulgulmerang East. There is a large bushfire traveling south east towards Suggan Buggan. There is also a large bushfire traveling north towards Suggan Buggan. There is currently extreme and unpredictable fire behaviour. You may be exposed to wild, erratic fire behaviour and heavy ember attack. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
I’m focussing on the live updates right now, rather than Scott Morrison’s deeply unfortunate promotional video which I posted earlier, but I will just point out that if you look on the Liberal party’s Facebook page, and if you click through to the explanatory material about today’s announcements from the prime minister, in the top right hand corner of the page you have an opportunity to shop, or donate, while you peruse the information. Seriously. Shocker.
Let’s keep moving.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, given the events of the day. A statewide total fire ban has been declared for all of NSW for tomorrow, Sunday 5 January 2020, beginning at midnight. Conditions are expected to be severe and very high across the state. No fires may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended during a total fire ban. Gas and electric barbecues may be used provided certain conditions are met.
On that subject, here’s the NSW energy minister Matt Kean. Please follow this advice if you can to take pressure off the grid.On that subject, here’s the NSW energy minister Matt Kean. Please follow this advice if you can to take pressure off the grid.
Obviously a disaster of this magnitude affects vital infrastructure. TransGrid says the power grid has been impacted. Paul Italiano, the chief executive of TransGrid (these guys operate the high voltage transmission network in the state) has just told the ABC they are experiencing fire damage to assets around the Kosciuszko National Park. “We’ve had to separate the two states and it is no longer operating as a single national electricity market and that has compromised the availability of energy to New South Wales”. Obviously a disaster of this magnitude affects vital infrastructure. TransGrid says the power grid has been impacted. Paul Italiano, the chief executive of TransGrid (these guys operate the high voltage transmission network in the state) has just told the ABC they are experiencing fire damage to assets around the Kosciuszko National Park.
“We’ve had to separate the two states and it is no longer operating as a single national electricity market and that has compromised the availability of energy to New South Wales.”
Q: Which areas and communities are impacted?Q: Which areas and communities are impacted?
Paul Italiano:Paul Italiano:
For the past hour here near Adaminaby it’s felt like midnight. We just stood and watched as two separate fires came over the ridge at almost exactly the same time. It’s blazing at the top of the hill now, long columns of fire spreading out in front of us.For the past hour here near Adaminaby it’s felt like midnight. We just stood and watched as two separate fires came over the ridge at almost exactly the same time. It’s blazing at the top of the hill now, long columns of fire spreading out in front of us.
A team of about five tankers followed not long after the fire appeared over the mountain, retreating down the slope towards a property that they’re trying to protect at the bottom of this steep hill. There were other properties further into the national park that the fire crews we spoke to earlier were worried about. We don’t know what’s happened to them. There’s debris and ash falling around us everywhere, and the wind is still howling.A team of about five tankers followed not long after the fire appeared over the mountain, retreating down the slope towards a property that they’re trying to protect at the bottom of this steep hill. There were other properties further into the national park that the fire crews we spoke to earlier were worried about. We don’t know what’s happened to them. There’s debris and ash falling around us everywhere, and the wind is still howling.
People evacuated from the fire-ravaged Victorian town of Mallacoota are being transported to a disaster relief centre at the Melbourne convention centre. One of them, Nick Ritar, was earlier today on board HMAS Choules, a massive naval vessel that is evacuating 1,100 people by sea.People evacuated from the fire-ravaged Victorian town of Mallacoota are being transported to a disaster relief centre at the Melbourne convention centre. One of them, Nick Ritar, was earlier today on board HMAS Choules, a massive naval vessel that is evacuating 1,100 people by sea.
Ritar is with his partner, Kirsten Bradley, and their son, Ashar, 10. “I’m on this ship with 1,000 other climate refugees”, Ritar told the Guardian earlier today. Ritar praised the defence force and emergency services personnel, but it sounds like it’s been a long journey.Ritar is with his partner, Kirsten Bradley, and their son, Ashar, 10. “I’m on this ship with 1,000 other climate refugees”, Ritar told the Guardian earlier today. Ritar praised the defence force and emergency services personnel, but it sounds like it’s been a long journey.
“It sort of became evident last night there were a lot of people standing around at 3am without anywhere to sleep”, he said, adding that his family has been lucky enough to get a bunk.“It sort of became evident last night there were a lot of people standing around at 3am without anywhere to sleep”, he said, adding that his family has been lucky enough to get a bunk.
As you’d also expect, the mood reflected the experiences of those on board. “There are people here who have lost their homes, they’ve evacuated because they literally no longer had a home”, he said. “There’s other people who are backpackers from around the world. They’re doing what young people do, meeting each other, playing cards and laughing and joking.”HMAS Choules docked at Hastings about 4pm today.As you’d also expect, the mood reflected the experiences of those on board. “There are people here who have lost their homes, they’ve evacuated because they literally no longer had a home”, he said. “There’s other people who are backpackers from around the world. They’re doing what young people do, meeting each other, playing cards and laughing and joking.”HMAS Choules docked at Hastings about 4pm today.
While I’m on images. The NSW premier. We are still to hit the worst of it.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.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.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.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:Andrew Barr:
Speaking of gritted teeth, the commonwealth commitments now have a backing track. And clicking.Speaking of gritted teeth, the commonwealth commitments now have a backing track. And clicking.
Let’s press on.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.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.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.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.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.”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.