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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
My last report from Nowra had the divisional commander reporting the southerly would hit about 9-9.30pm. It showed up about 7.
The sky changed to dark, deep, brown and the wind roared in through the very tall and thick forest where we are, whipping up dirt and ash and smoke.
Strike teams rushed to Milton down south. A short time later there were intakes of breath as a team was told they were going to Kangaroo Valley.
Kangaroo Valley is now under serious threat from the Currowan fire.
Earlier today, one firefighter described to me their strategy for the day: we can’t stop the fire, so we’re just trying to direct it as best we can. Strike teams were sent across the state on Saturday, moved around like chess pieces against an opponent that’s ignoring all the rules.
A short time ago I heard from the group who stayed to defend their places at Longreach. That southerly came just in time to push the fire away from them. But as we keep encountering out in these fires, the relief is pretty tainted for people by the fact that a fire moving away from them means it’s moving towards someone else instead.
The ACT has declared a total fire ban again tomorrow and issued a “state of alert” for the territory. The state of alert effectively puts the ACT government on a ready footing to respond to bushfire threats. The government is also encouraging residents to develop their bushfire plans, if they have them.
Neil James, head of the Australia Defence Association, has explained why he believes Scott Morrison’s ad spruiking his response to the bushfires breaches non-partisan conventions involving the military. He told Guardian Australia:
James said it was critical that the ADF was allowed to remain completely independent and non-partisan.
More grim news for the region around Eden on the far south coast. The bushfire burning on the Victoria-NSW border has moved north and is now threatening towns. The RFS has issued an emergency warning for Womboyn, Kiah, Narrabarba, Towamba, Burragate, Eden and surrounds. The RFS has warned it is now too late to leave these areas. Residents are at risk. They should seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Images are continuing to filter in from around Nowra, where the Currowan fire continues to burn out of control. The fire is more than 264,000 hectares in size and the opportunity to leave has now ceased for all areas between Nowra and Kiola east of the Princes Highway. Residents in those areas are advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
Residents in Freeburgh, Harrietville, Smoko, Wandiligong and surrounding areas in Victoria’s north-east are being urged to evacuate to safer locations.Residents in Freeburgh, Harrietville, Smoko, Wandiligong and surrounding areas in Victoria’s north-east are being urged to evacuate to safer locations.
There are multiple bushfires burning in the Abbeyard area that are not yet under control.There are multiple bushfires burning in the Abbeyard area that are not yet under control.
Just on that fire now burning through Kangaroo Valley, our photographer Jessica Hromas was on scene near Nowra when the southerly wind hit earlier. She’s filed these shots from the the local rugby club, which is the staging area for emergency services.Just on that fire now burning through Kangaroo Valley, our photographer Jessica Hromas was on scene near Nowra when the southerly wind hit earlier. She’s filed these shots from the the local rugby club, which is the staging area for emergency services.
The Cuurowan fire on the NSW south coast is now burning in the Kangaroo Valley. The RFS has issued an emergency warning for anyone in the valley, saying they should now seek shelter.The Cuurowan fire on the NSW south coast is now burning in the Kangaroo Valley. The RFS has issued an emergency warning for anyone in the valley, saying they should now seek shelter.
Japanese meteorological satellites have captured an extraordinary time-lapse of smoke drifting eastward from the bushfires covering NSW and Victoria. The animation gives a sense of the scale and movement of the smoke as it shifts into the Tasman.Japanese meteorological satellites have captured an extraordinary time-lapse of smoke drifting eastward from the bushfires covering NSW and Victoria. The animation gives a sense of the scale and movement of the smoke as it shifts into the Tasman.
We mentioned a little earlier *that* party political ad put out by Scott Morrison’s office spruiking their response to the bushfires. The reaction to the video has been, er, less than positive. The Australia Defence Association, a non-partisan defence watchdog and think tank, says the video’s use of military personnel is a clear breach of non-partisanship conventions that restrict the use of the ADF in party political advertisements.We mentioned a little earlier *that* party political ad put out by Scott Morrison’s office spruiking their response to the bushfires. The reaction to the video has been, er, less than positive. The Australia Defence Association, a non-partisan defence watchdog and think tank, says the video’s use of military personnel is a clear breach of non-partisanship conventions that restrict the use of the ADF in party political advertisements.
In case that wasn’t enough, British TV presenter Piers Morgan has also taken a swing. And what a swing. He describes the video as “one of the most tone-deaf things I’ve ever seen a country’s leader put out during a crisis”.In case that wasn’t enough, British TV presenter Piers Morgan has also taken a swing. And what a swing. He describes the video as “one of the most tone-deaf things I’ve ever seen a country’s leader put out during a crisis”.
It goes from bad to worse for the prime minister.It goes from bad to worse for the prime minister.
We are getting reports that people are being moved from evacuation centres in Eden, on NSW’s far south coast, towards Merimbula. Fires burning just north of the Victorian border, including the Poole Road fire, are spreading quickly and emergency warnings have been issued. The southerly change is generally moving those fires on the NSW-Victorian border to the north.We are getting reports that people are being moved from evacuation centres in Eden, on NSW’s far south coast, towards Merimbula. Fires burning just north of the Victorian border, including the Poole Road fire, are spreading quickly and emergency warnings have been issued. The southerly change is generally moving those fires on the NSW-Victorian border to the north.
For those in the Canberra, ABC reporter Markus Mannheim has just created a handy map illustrating the city’s bushfire-prone areas. It covers a large chunk of the bush capital.For those in the Canberra, ABC reporter Markus Mannheim has just created a handy map illustrating the city’s bushfire-prone areas. It covers a large chunk of the bush capital.
The ACT has so far avoided the bushfire crisis plaguing much of neighbouring NSW, though the smoke haze has continued to create significant air quality issues. Those in Canberra will keenly remember - as I do - the horrific events of 2003, which were the result of out-of-control fires that burned to the south-west and west of the city for more than a week.The ACT has so far avoided the bushfire crisis plaguing much of neighbouring NSW, though the smoke haze has continued to create significant air quality issues. Those in Canberra will keenly remember - as I do - the horrific events of 2003, which were the result of out-of-control fires that burned to the south-west and west of the city for more than a week.
Fires are worsening in some areas of Victoria. We’ve just seen two emergency warnings issued by Victorian authorities. The first is for Buchan and Buchan South. Authorities say it is now too late to leave. Residents should shelter indoors and activate their bushfire survival plans.Fires are worsening in some areas of Victoria. We’ve just seen two emergency warnings issued by Victorian authorities. The first is for Buchan and Buchan South. Authorities say it is now too late to leave. Residents should shelter indoors and activate their bushfire survival plans.
Another emergency warning was issued for Brookville and Omeo, in the state’s east. It is too late to leave these areas. Residents should shelter indoors immediately.Another emergency warning was issued for Brookville and Omeo, in the state’s east. It is too late to leave these areas. Residents should shelter indoors immediately.
Power outages are continuing across NSW. Ausgrid reports that power is out for some homes in Fletcher and Wallsend, suburbs of Newcastle.Power outages are continuing across NSW. Ausgrid reports that power is out for some homes in Fletcher and Wallsend, suburbs of Newcastle.
A little earlier, it said the outages were affecting 14,000 customers, primarily in Sydney’s north and south-west. But it has since restored power to some areas, including Hornsby, Normanhurst, Bexley North, Campsie, Canterbury and surrounding suburbs.A little earlier, it said the outages were affecting 14,000 customers, primarily in Sydney’s north and south-west. But it has since restored power to some areas, including Hornsby, Normanhurst, Bexley North, Campsie, Canterbury and surrounding suburbs.
Our reporter Helen Davidson was in Nowra a little earlier when that southerly swept through. The conditions precipitating the change were ferocious. It brought strong wind gusts and a sudden change in the sky.Our reporter Helen Davidson was in Nowra a little earlier when that southerly swept through. The conditions precipitating the change were ferocious. It brought strong wind gusts and a sudden change in the sky.
Jessie Davies, an ABC reporter, was also there and posted this footage showing the terrifying conditions.Jessie Davies, an ABC reporter, was also there and posted this footage showing the terrifying conditions.