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Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires threaten horrendous day of fire danger - latest updates NSW fires live, Victoria bushfires updates and two dead in South Australia – latest news
(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 towns Two people have died on Kangaroo Island, as New South Wales and Victorian fire chiefs warn today’s conditions may be the worst of the entire bushfire season. Follow live news and latest updates
I mentioned earlier today the national security committee of cabinet has been meeting in Canberra this morning. Scott Morrison is due to speak to reporters in about 15 minutes.
Inspired, and we could use a bit of inspiration right now.
Some more news from Victoria, where the situation is moving fast. There has been an update to an emergency warning for people near the Goongerah fire, which is on the Victoria-NSW border.
People living in the Upper Snowy have been told it is too late to leave. The fire there, which is south of Bendoc and moving north towards the NSW border, is now threatening lives and homes. “Leaving now would be deadly,” the alert says.
The Princes Highway is now closed from Lake Tyers road, near Lakes Entrance to NSW border, a 200km stretch of road.
Hello if you’ve just joined today’s live coverage of the bushfire emergency. I trust your fire plans are in place if you are in affected regions. This is not a drill.
Here’s a quick summary of the main events this morning.
Two more deaths have been confirmed this morning on Kangaroo Island. The Kangaroo Island fire has destroyed much of the Flinders Chase National Park. That fire remains at watch and act level.
In Victoria, fires in the north-east are continuing to burn, and 28 people remain unaccounted for. The first evacuees from Mallacoota have arrived safely at Hastings.
In NSW, residents of large towns in the southern highlands have been advised to consider their need to be there. Residents of Alymerton, Braemar, Balaclava, Willow Vale, Mittagong, Welby along Wombeyan Caves Road and Joadja Road have been advised to relocate, according to local media.
The deaths confirmed this morning in South Australia bring the fire-related death toll to 21 since October. There have been eight fatalities this week. The ABC says almost 450 homes have been lost on the south coast this week, taking the total number of homes destroyed in the state this bushfire season to more than 1,300.
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.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.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 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.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.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.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.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 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 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.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.”“Tricky days.”
Checking in on the high country in NSW, where it remains a waiting game.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.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.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.”“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.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.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.”“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.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: