This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jan/04/australia-nsw-fires-live-updates-victoria-bushfires-rfs-cfa-road-closures-near-sydney-melbourne-latest-news

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires threaten horrendous day of fire danger - latest updates 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
It’s noon, and we’ve hit 38C in Canberra. Time for a summary if you are just tuning in. I’ll post that next.
Back to Victoria. God, your heart breaks.
To the southern highlands of NSW, the Illawarra Mercury is reporting that residents of large towns are being advised to assess their need to stay in the area. Residents of Alymerton, Braemar, Balaclava, Willow Vale, Mittagong, Welby along Wombeyan Caves Road and Joadja Road have been advised to relocate.
To the NSW coast now. We’re at the Shoalhaven rugby club, which is acting as a staging ground for the RFS, Fire and Rescue, police, and paramedics.
Strike teams here could be sent anywhere - it’s a waiting game. Some have headed towards the Shoalhaven river, where there are concerns the fire could jump to the northern side, getting into bushland and threatening communities like Bundanoon, Penrose, Wingello, and the Kangaroo Valley.
Darin Sullivan, station officer for Shellharbour Fire and Rescue, said they’re expecting flare ups on several fronts. Not everyone in those communities have left, and some places are holding community meetings today.
Sullivan noted that while it might look like the fire is relatively far away, it’s a matter of 15-25km and we have seen fires in recent days regularly spotting 15km ahead of the forefront.
“I was at Batemans Bay on New Year’s Eve and saw the devastation down there first hand. I responded on a team from Shellharbour that night, we had to get through the Nowra fire just to get there to help out.
I pulled into Conjola on the way back up - I’ve got a property at Conjola and my family was in Conjola that day.
I ended up evacuating my wife out on the firetruck - she was in Conjola when the firestorm run over that day. So everyone’s got stories.
“Tricky days.”
Checking in on the high country in NSW, where it remains a waiting game.
I just spoke to a fellow named Hugh outside his son’s 1400 acre property north of Adaminaby. The land runs up into the national park, and isn’t separated by a fence. Right now strong gusting winds are blowing a fire in the direction of the property, and smoke has settled above us.
Hugh’s son, Guy, has been building containment lines for weeks though and he’s hopeful that it won’t come through to the house. “All we’ve heard from the RFS is they’re very under-manned and it’s up to ourselves to defend ourselves,” Hugh said to me.
“The bush is so dry though. I guess one good thing about the drought is that usually the grass up to the house would be a lot higher. We’re just watching to see what happens.”
Time to check in elsewhere now. Luke Henriques-Gomes has eyes on Victoria and tells me two emergency warnings have been issued in the past 15 minutes.
There are now seven warnings in place across the state. The latest warning is for people at Gelantipy and W Tree and is available here, in East Gippsland and near Buchan.
“W Tree and Gelantipy could be impacted anytime within the next [half hour],” the alert says. “Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.”
Still in South Australia, the CFS chief officer Mark Jones puts the risks starkly and eloquently.
The SA premier has just told reporters there have been two deaths in the Kangaroo Island fires.The SA premier has just told reporters there have been two deaths in the Kangaroo Island fires.
Steven Marshall:Steven Marshall:
The South Australian premier Steven Marshall is also providing an update about the situation on Kangaroo Island.The South Australian premier Steven Marshall is also providing an update about the situation on Kangaroo Island.
The premier says the fires on the island first began on December 20. They have now been burning for more than two weeks, but yesterday “there was a very serious escalation in the danger regarding this fire with the weather conditions significantly deteriorating”.The premier says the fires on the island first began on December 20. They have now been burning for more than two weeks, but yesterday “there was a very serious escalation in the danger regarding this fire with the weather conditions significantly deteriorating”.
Steven Marshall:Steven Marshall:
The premier says currently, there are around 500 people involved in fighting the fires on Kangaroo Island today. The local fire chief predicts the fires will burn for some days. He says during yesterday’s dramatic fire conditions, they had to evacuate the airfield where the water bombers were stationed, and three CFS vehicles were burned over, “but it is a testament to the skill and discipline and training of the volunteer firefighters that none are reported as having been injured”.The premier says currently, there are around 500 people involved in fighting the fires on Kangaroo Island today. The local fire chief predicts the fires will burn for some days. He says during yesterday’s dramatic fire conditions, they had to evacuate the airfield where the water bombers were stationed, and three CFS vehicles were burned over, “but it is a testament to the skill and discipline and training of the volunteer firefighters that none are reported as having been injured”.
The Labor leader Anthony Albanese, and the party’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, are addressing the media in South Australia. There is a significant fire on Kangaroo Island. This video gives you a sense of how bad things are in that region.The Labor leader Anthony Albanese, and the party’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, are addressing the media in South Australia. There is a significant fire on Kangaroo Island. This video gives you a sense of how bad things are in that region.
Penny Wong:Penny Wong:
Anthony Albanese:Anthony Albanese:
For residents of the NSW south coast, the latest advice on the roads.
In the last little while, the NSW fire service has issued the following advice.
Watch and Act - Pilot Lookout (Snowy Valleys LGA) Several fires are spreading in Kosciuscko NP. If you are in Thredbo Village, Little Thredbo, Bullock Flat, Crackenback & surrounds leave now to Jindabyne via The Alpine Way.
Watch and Act - Werri Berri and Badja Forest Road, Countegany (Bega Valley LGA) An inversion layer is lifting over the Bega Valley & fire activity is increasing. Strong NW winds will push the fire towards the coast.
If you’ve been following the bushfire coverage, or if you follow events on social media, you’ll know that Scott Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the disaster, and for the government’s record on climate change.
If you follow politics, and if you are reasonably across Morrison and his private interests, you’ll already know the prime minister is a big fan of Tina Arena. If you follow the prime minister on Instagram, you may also have noticed that Arena has issued her own call to action.
In a comment under Morrison’s most recent post updating people about the fires, Arena says: “No more coal mines opening Scott ... It’s over! Drastic changes are required so MAKE the difference ... and now.”
Our reporter, Mick McGowan, is in the high country today, where communities are on high alert.
If you are just tuning in, Saturday, so far.
The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has predicted it will be “a long and difficult day for everybody”.
The NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian says there is still a short window to evacuate from fire affected regions.
The NSW emergency services minister, David Elliot – the bloke who has been on holiday as the state burned – is back on the job. He says he won’t quit. “I came back to step up, not step down.”
The first group of evacuees from Mallacoota has made it to Hastings.
In Canberra, the national security committee of cabinet is meeting, and we expect to hear from the prime minister Scott Morrison later in the day.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.”