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Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires threaten horrendous day of fire danger - live Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires threaten horrendous day of fire danger - latest updates
(32 minutes later)
New South Wales and Victorian fire chiefs warn Saturday’s conditions may be the worst of the entire bushfire season, as thousands flee threatened townsNew South Wales and Victorian fire chiefs warn Saturday’s conditions may be the worst of the entire bushfire season, as thousands flee threatened towns
Morning all, thank you very much to Luke. It’s Katharine Murphy with you now, from smoky Canberra. Only 10.30 and it’s already 31C here. If you are near any of the fire affected regions, do your fire plans people. Do it now.
The Guardian’s Ben Smee looked at the prime minister’s much-maligned response to the bushfires crisis.
Ben spoke to a public relations expert about what the former Hawke government press secretary Barrie Cassidy described as “the destruction of a political leader”.
I might take the chance now to share some of the bushfire coverage that the Guardian has published this morning.
Environment reporter Graham Readfearn filed this story about the impact of the fires on native species.
Readfearn spoke to experts who say fires on Kangaroo Island in South Australia could push the endangered dunnart – a tiny mouse-like marsupial – close to extinction.
It is one of a number of rare species that may wiped out as a result of the unprecedented bushfire crisis.
Victorian emergency services minister Lisa Neville says the second person in Victoria who was confirmed to have died yesterday has now been identified.Victorian emergency services minister Lisa Neville says the second person in Victoria who was confirmed to have died yesterday has now been identified.
His name is Fred Becker.His name is Fred Becker.
“I want to pass on my condolences and the condolences of the Government to family, to the community of Genoa, who will be suffering as a result of this on top of the trauma they have faced in relation to fair fires,” she says.“I want to pass on my condolences and the condolences of the Government to family, to the community of Genoa, who will be suffering as a result of this on top of the trauma they have faced in relation to fair fires,” she says.
Graham Ashton says there are now 21 people missing in the state as a result of fires. The figure quoted yesterday was 28, so this appears to be good news.Graham Ashton says there are now 21 people missing in the state as a result of fires. The figure quoted yesterday was 28, so this appears to be good news.
However, Ashton notes that the figure may shift again. “We’re trying to get into communities to again not withstanding the fire activity, get into communities and look for those people and satisfy ourselves that the people are OK and safe and well,” he says.However, Ashton notes that the figure may shift again. “We’re trying to get into communities to again not withstanding the fire activity, get into communities and look for those people and satisfy ourselves that the people are OK and safe and well,” he says.
Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton says thousands have evacuated from the leave zone.Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton says thousands have evacuated from the leave zone.
About 60-70% of people spoken to by police said they were leaving. Fewer people leaving in East Gippsland, though that’s because many have already left.About 60-70% of people spoken to by police said they were leaving. Fewer people leaving in East Gippsland, though that’s because many have already left.
“Traffic flows have been heavy,” he said. “Again, motorists have been behaving very responsibly on the roads out through the heavy traffic flows, which has been of great assistance.“Traffic flows have been heavy,” he said. “Again, motorists have been behaving very responsibly on the roads out through the heavy traffic flows, which has been of great assistance.
“So it’s really heartening to see people that have been heeding warnings and behaving so patiently on our roads as they’ve been making their way out.”“So it’s really heartening to see people that have been heeding warnings and behaving so patiently on our roads as they’ve been making their way out.”
Crisp returns to evacuations. He puts it in these terms:Crisp returns to evacuations. He puts it in these terms:
Crisp thanks the thousands of people who have evacuated from six local government areas across the state since Thursday.Crisp thanks the thousands of people who have evacuated from six local government areas across the state since Thursday.
He warns that in the Alpine area there is the potential again for the “pyro-cumulus columns to develop, and develop their own weather, so they can throw out their own lightning”.He warns that in the Alpine area there is the potential again for the “pyro-cumulus columns to develop, and develop their own weather, so they can throw out their own lightning”.
“We still have those dynamic and dangerous conditions, the low humidity, the strong winds, and what underpins that, the state is tinder dry,” he adds.“We still have those dynamic and dangerous conditions, the low humidity, the strong winds, and what underpins that, the state is tinder dry,” he adds.
“It is really, really dry at the moment.”“It is really, really dry at the moment.”
Crisp says there was some significant fire behaviour last night, particularly in the Alpine area.Crisp says there was some significant fire behaviour last night, particularly in the Alpine area.
“We have seen wind gusts up to 67km/h already today, up at Mount Hotham,” he says.“We have seen wind gusts up to 67km/h already today, up at Mount Hotham,” he says.
“It’s predicted when the change comes through we will see gusts up to80 km/h. The change has come through for the west of the state, moved through Melbourne, it’s moving now into East Sale at 10am.“It’s predicted when the change comes through we will see gusts up to80 km/h. The change has come through for the west of the state, moved through Melbourne, it’s moving now into East Sale at 10am.
“We won’t see that change until about 1pm, up at Wangaratta, and 4pm at Albury and not until 7-8pm will it be at Falls Creek out of the north-east.”“We won’t see that change until about 1pm, up at Wangaratta, and 4pm at Albury and not until 7-8pm will it be at Falls Creek out of the north-east.”
Victorian emergency services commissioner Andrew Crisp notes there is a watch and act in place in the Glenelg area, near Portland. That’s in the state’s west. A number of people were evacuated from a camping area there.Victorian emergency services commissioner Andrew Crisp notes there is a watch and act in place in the Glenelg area, near Portland. That’s in the state’s west. A number of people were evacuated from a camping area there.
He is making the point that although much of the focus has been in the state’s east and north-east, there is the potential for fire anywhere in the state.He is making the point that although much of the focus has been in the state’s east and north-east, there is the potential for fire anywhere in the state.
A press briefing is about to begin with emergency services officials at Victoria’s state control centre. We’ll bring that to you shortly.A press briefing is about to begin with emergency services officials at Victoria’s state control centre. We’ll bring that to you shortly.
We’ve made it to the town of Adaminaby, about an hour or so north of Jindabyne and right in the centre of the Snowy Mountains leave zone.We’ve made it to the town of Adaminaby, about an hour or so north of Jindabyne and right in the centre of the Snowy Mountains leave zone.
It seems like most people here have heeded the Rural Fire Service’s warning to leave. All the shops here are closed and the streets are dead quiet.It seems like most people here have heeded the Rural Fire Service’s warning to leave. All the shops here are closed and the streets are dead quiet.
The wind that RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned about earlier this morning is starting to pick up now, and burnt leaves are falling from the sky around us.The wind that RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned about earlier this morning is starting to pick up now, and burnt leaves are falling from the sky around us.
About 450 emergency services staff are being housed at a massive tent city in East Gippsland that has been open since 18 December.About 450 emergency services staff are being housed at a massive tent city in East Gippsland that has been open since 18 December.
The base camp at Swan Reach, in between Bairnsdale and Lakes entrance, on the Tambo River.The base camp at Swan Reach, in between Bairnsdale and Lakes entrance, on the Tambo River.
The CFA said it has sourced almost all services, produce, and equipment from local businesses, which have also suffered an economic cost from the ongoing bushfire crisis.The CFA said it has sourced almost all services, produce, and equipment from local businesses, which have also suffered an economic cost from the ongoing bushfire crisis.
“More than 5000 litres of fuel is being used each day at the camp, refuelling fire trucks and vehicles, and ensuring generators keep powering the site,” the CFA said in a press release.“More than 5000 litres of fuel is being used each day at the camp, refuelling fire trucks and vehicles, and ensuring generators keep powering the site,” the CFA said in a press release.
“Crews are also consuming 1200 bread rolls, 140 kilograms of fruit, and 60 kilograms of sandwich meat per day.“Crews are also consuming 1200 bread rolls, 140 kilograms of fruit, and 60 kilograms of sandwich meat per day.
Hygiene has also been taken into consideration, with 30 toilets being emptied twice a day, and more than 50 industrial loads of washing being done to ensure staff have clean bedding.”Hygiene has also been taken into consideration, with 30 toilets being emptied twice a day, and more than 50 industrial loads of washing being done to ensure staff have clean bedding.”
Jingellic is in NSW, just on the border with Victoria, and north of Corryong. It’s threatened by the massive, 127,000-ha, Green Valley fire.Jingellic is in NSW, just on the border with Victoria, and north of Corryong. It’s threatened by the massive, 127,000-ha, Green Valley fire.