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| Canberra fires live updates: capital of Australia faces renewed bushfire threat – latest news | Canberra fires live updates: capital of Australia faces renewed bushfire threat – latest news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Huge fires to the south smother the city with smoke as Scott Morrison prepares to address the National Press Club. Follow all the latest updates | Huge fires to the south smother the city with smoke as Scott Morrison prepares to address the National Press Club. Follow all the latest updates |
| Looks like the bulk of Scott Morrison’s press conference will be about the unfolding Coronavirus but he begins by calling the fires in Canberra “a reminder again that we’re a long way from the end of this bushfire season”. | |
| The Orroral Valley fire in the ACT has now burnt through 10,079 hectares. | |
| The prime minister Scott Morrison is about to give a press conference in Canberra. I’ll let you know if he touches on plans to expand the powers of the Commonwealth to respond to national emergencies, which is expected to be a key focus of his National Press Club address today. | |
| Moving briefly to South Australia, AAP reports that authorities there are bracing for a day of severe fire danger with special work to be conducted on the Kangaroo Island fire ground.Earthmoving equipment, water tankers and extra fire crews are being sent to strategic locations on Kangaroo Island ahead of a day of high bushfire risk. | Moving briefly to South Australia, AAP reports that authorities there are bracing for a day of severe fire danger with special work to be conducted on the Kangaroo Island fire ground.Earthmoving equipment, water tankers and extra fire crews are being sent to strategic locations on Kangaroo Island ahead of a day of high bushfire risk. |
| The blaze on the island is officially contained but the Country Fire Service says crews are still finding hotspots in various areas including Blue Gum Hills, Cygnet River and Vivonne Bay. | |
| The bushfire risk on Thursday is expected to be severe with a total fire ban to be put in place as temperatures soar. | The bushfire risk on Thursday is expected to be severe with a total fire ban to be put in place as temperatures soar. |
| Adelaide is forecast to have a top of 42C with the mercury going even higher in some regional centres. | Adelaide is forecast to have a top of 42C with the mercury going even higher in some regional centres. |
| The fire has already burnt through more 210,000 hectares and destroyed more than 50 homes along with hundreds of other buildings, crops, livestock, wildlife and infrastructure including many kilometres of fencing. | The fire has already burnt through more 210,000 hectares and destroyed more than 50 homes along with hundreds of other buildings, crops, livestock, wildlife and infrastructure including many kilometres of fencing. |
| It also claimed two lives. Father and son Dick and Clayton Lang were killed when their car became engulfed in flames. | It also claimed two lives. Father and son Dick and Clayton Lang were killed when their car became engulfed in flames. |
| From Tuesday night. A lot of ACT residents are comparing this fire to the devastating 2003 blaze. | From Tuesday night. A lot of ACT residents are comparing this fire to the devastating 2003 blaze. |
| Just a reminder of where we’re at. On Monday, a defence helicopter landed in the Namadgi national park, south of Canberra, and accidentally sparked what authorities have called the city’s “most serious” bushfire threat since the city’s devastating 2003 fires. | Just a reminder of where we’re at. On Monday, a defence helicopter landed in the Namadgi national park, south of Canberra, and accidentally sparked what authorities have called the city’s “most serious” bushfire threat since the city’s devastating 2003 fires. |
| Tuesday saw dramatic images of the fire approaching Canberra’s southern suburbs, but conditions eased throughout the evening and the fire was downgraded from emergency level to watch and act just before midnight. | Tuesday saw dramatic images of the fire approaching Canberra’s southern suburbs, but conditions eased throughout the evening and the fire was downgraded from emergency level to watch and act just before midnight. |
| The fire remains active though and is travelling in a north-east and easterly direction towards the communities of Mount Tennant, Tharwa Village, Boboyan Road and Top Naas Road. | The fire remains active though and is travelling in a north-east and easterly direction towards the communities of Mount Tennant, Tharwa Village, Boboyan Road and Top Naas Road. |
| The ACT Emergency Services Agency says residents in those areas need to “remain vigilant”. If you do not need to be in the area, “it is still best for your safety to not enter or return”. | The ACT Emergency Services Agency says residents in those areas need to “remain vigilant”. If you do not need to be in the area, “it is still best for your safety to not enter or return”. |
| Residents in the southern Canberra suburbs of Banks, Gordon, Conder, Calwell and Theodore should also continue to monitor conditions. | Residents in the southern Canberra suburbs of Banks, Gordon, Conder, Calwell and Theodore should also continue to monitor conditions. |
| While milder conditions today are helping fire authorities the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting extremely high temperatures and low humidity that will prove challenging. | While milder conditions today are helping fire authorities the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting extremely high temperatures and low humidity that will prove challenging. |
| Temperatures today are still tipped to reach 36C though before rising to 39C on Thursday. On Friday the mercury will increase to at top 42C. | Temperatures today are still tipped to reach 36C though before rising to 39C on Thursday. On Friday the mercury will increase to at top 42C. |
| It will be 42C again on Saturday, before showers and possible storm pass through on Sunday, with a top temperature of 35C. | It will be 42C again on Saturday, before showers and possible storm pass through on Sunday, with a top temperature of 35C. |
| As Luke has written, fire crews are making the most of today’s milder conditions before the expected temperature rise tomorrow and on Saturday. | As Luke has written, fire crews are making the most of today’s milder conditions before the expected temperature rise tomorrow and on Saturday. |
| Today ACT emergency service personnel, police and defence force members are door knocking in the southern Canberra suburbs of Banks, Gordon and Conder. | Today ACT emergency service personnel, police and defence force members are door knocking in the southern Canberra suburbs of Banks, Gordon and Conder. |
| It’s not an evacuation – no evacuation warnings have been issued for those suburbs – but the ACT Emergency Services Agency says they’ll be there to “answer any questions and to help ensure residents have a bushfire survival plan”. | It’s not an evacuation – no evacuation warnings have been issued for those suburbs – but the ACT Emergency Services Agency says they’ll be there to “answer any questions and to help ensure residents have a bushfire survival plan”. |
| That’s all from me for now. My colleague Michael McGowan will be taking over for a while. And a reminder that Scott Morrison will be addressing the National Press Club this afternoon. | That’s all from me for now. My colleague Michael McGowan will be taking over for a while. And a reminder that Scott Morrison will be addressing the National Press Club this afternoon. |
| The ABC has reported some comments from the ACT Emergency Services Agency’s incident controller, Matthew Shonk, who says authorities do not expect the fire to return to emergency level today. | The ABC has reported some comments from the ACT Emergency Services Agency’s incident controller, Matthew Shonk, who says authorities do not expect the fire to return to emergency level today. |
| But Shonk says the fire is not going to be put out today or tomorrow and that conditions will worsen in coming days. | But Shonk says the fire is not going to be put out today or tomorrow and that conditions will worsen in coming days. |
| “We can’t sugar coat that in any way,” he said. | “We can’t sugar coat that in any way,” he said. |
| “The conditions that we saw yesterday could well pop up again. | “The conditions that we saw yesterday could well pop up again. |
| “There’s challenging times coming up, we’re not going to get this fire out today and not tomorrow, this is a campaign fire and we’ll be working for some time.” | “There’s challenging times coming up, we’re not going to get this fire out today and not tomorrow, this is a campaign fire and we’ll be working for some time.” |
| The fire is about 8km south of Banks, the most southern suburb in Canberra. Fire crews are hoping to make the most of today’s milder conditions. | The fire is about 8km south of Banks, the most southern suburb in Canberra. Fire crews are hoping to make the most of today’s milder conditions. |
| The size of the fire is currently 10,079 hectares, according to the latest update from the ACT Emergency Services Agency. | The size of the fire is currently 10,079 hectares, according to the latest update from the ACT Emergency Services Agency. |
| Whelan on what she called “disaster tourism”. | Whelan on what she called “disaster tourism”. |
| “We’d had a number of reports from residents in the southern suburbs of the significant amount traffic coming into the southern suburbs last evening,” she said. | “We’d had a number of reports from residents in the southern suburbs of the significant amount traffic coming into the southern suburbs last evening,” she said. |
| “It would appear we have a number of people who are coming into the suburbs to check out the fire, to take photographs, to undertake what I’m calling disaster tourism. | “It would appear we have a number of people who are coming into the suburbs to check out the fire, to take photographs, to undertake what I’m calling disaster tourism. |
| “Please refrain from doing this.” | “Please refrain from doing this.” |
| We are seeing some amazing photographs of the Canberra fire. Many of these photographs will have come from safe vantage points or from a person’s own property. | We are seeing some amazing photographs of the Canberra fire. Many of these photographs will have come from safe vantage points or from a person’s own property. |
| However, the ACT’s emergency services agency commissioner, Georgeina Whelan, is asking people not to engage in “disaster tourism” by heading to head to Canberra’s southern suburbs an Instagram shot. | However, the ACT’s emergency services agency commissioner, Georgeina Whelan, is asking people not to engage in “disaster tourism” by heading to head to Canberra’s southern suburbs an Instagram shot. |
| Scott Morrison will address the National Press Club today – and excerpts of his speech indicate a key theme will be expanding the powers of the commonwealth to respond to national emergencies. | Scott Morrison will address the National Press Club today – and excerpts of his speech indicate a key theme will be expanding the powers of the commonwealth to respond to national emergencies. |
| First, Morrison describes the problem as he sees it: | First, Morrison describes the problem as he sees it: |
| “To date, the role of the Commonwealth in responding to natural disasters has been limited to responding to requests for assistance from state governments. They judge the time and form of support needed. | “To date, the role of the Commonwealth in responding to natural disasters has been limited to responding to requests for assistance from state governments. They judge the time and form of support needed. |
| The scale of the bushfires this season – not least their simultaneous reach across state borders – has unequivocally demonstrated the limits of those arrangements.” | The scale of the bushfires this season – not least their simultaneous reach across state borders – has unequivocally demonstrated the limits of those arrangements.” |
| And then, the solution: | And then, the solution: |
| “I believe, however, there is now a clear community expectation that the Commonwealth should have the ability to respond in times of national emergencies and disasters, particularly through deployment of our defence forces in circumstances where the life and property of Australians have been assessed to be under threat. | “I believe, however, there is now a clear community expectation that the Commonwealth should have the ability to respond in times of national emergencies and disasters, particularly through deployment of our defence forces in circumstances where the life and property of Australians have been assessed to be under threat. |
| ... I therefore flag the following as issues to be considered in the wake of recent events, namely: | ... I therefore flag the following as issues to be considered in the wake of recent events, namely: |
| The constitutional and legal framework that would allow the Commonwealth to declare a national state of emergency - with clear authorities and appropriate safeguards for Commonwealth action on its own initiative, including the deployment of our defence force; | The constitutional and legal framework that would allow the Commonwealth to declare a national state of emergency - with clear authorities and appropriate safeguards for Commonwealth action on its own initiative, including the deployment of our defence force; |
| The legal interface with the states and territories on responsibilities when it comes to preparation for, and response to, natural disasters and emergencies of national scale; | The legal interface with the states and territories on responsibilities when it comes to preparation for, and response to, natural disasters and emergencies of national scale; |
| An enhanced national accountability for natural disaster risk management, resilience and preparedness. This should include the setting of targets and transparent reporting on key actions, with enhanced national standards where necessary.” | An enhanced national accountability for natural disaster risk management, resilience and preparedness. This should include the setting of targets and transparent reporting on key actions, with enhanced national standards where necessary.” |
| Morrison will also give a bit more detail on his proposal for a royal commission into the bushfires, explaining its first take will be to “audit the implementation of previous [inquiries’] recommendations, drawing on work that has already been done in this area”. | Morrison will also give a bit more detail on his proposal for a royal commission into the bushfires, explaining its first take will be to “audit the implementation of previous [inquiries’] recommendations, drawing on work that has already been done in this area”. |
| This is some incredible footage from Martin Ollman, a photographer in Canberra. | This is some incredible footage from Martin Ollman, a photographer in Canberra. |
| The weather over the coming days is expected to be very dry and hot in Canberra, the Bureau of Meteorology says. | The weather over the coming days is expected to be very dry and hot in Canberra, the Bureau of Meteorology says. |
| Wednesday is tipped to reach 36C, with the city shrouded in a smoke haze. Thursday will hit 39C, with more smoky conditions, while Friday the mercury will increase to at top 42C. | Wednesday is tipped to reach 36C, with the city shrouded in a smoke haze. Thursday will hit 39C, with more smoky conditions, while Friday the mercury will increase to at top 42C. |
| It will be 42C again on Saturday, before showers and possible storm pass through on Sunday, with a top temperature of 35C. | It will be 42C again on Saturday, before showers and possible storm pass through on Sunday, with a top temperature of 35C. |
| The current watch and act alert for the Orroral Valley fire warns residents in Tharwa Village, Boboyan Road, Apollo Road, and Top Naas Road to remain vigilant. | The current watch and act alert for the Orroral Valley fire warns residents in Tharwa Village, Boboyan Road, Apollo Road, and Top Naas Road to remain vigilant. |
| “Monitor conditions and know what you will do if the fire threatens,” the ACT Emergency Services Agency says. “If you do not need to be in this area, it is still best for your safety to not enter or return.” | “Monitor conditions and know what you will do if the fire threatens,” the ACT Emergency Services Agency says. “If you do not need to be in this area, it is still best for your safety to not enter or return.” |
| The agency says residents in Banks, Gordon, Condor, Calwell and Theodore should continue to monitor conditions. | The agency says residents in Banks, Gordon, Condor, Calwell and Theodore should continue to monitor conditions. |
| But it notes that no properties are under threat at this time. | But it notes that no properties are under threat at this time. |
| Yesterday, a fire started by a defence helicopter which landed in the Namadgi national park, south of Canberra, sparked what authorities called the city’s “most serious” bushfire threat since the city’s devastating 2003 fires. | Yesterday, a fire started by a defence helicopter which landed in the Namadgi national park, south of Canberra, sparked what authorities called the city’s “most serious” bushfire threat since the city’s devastating 2003 fires. |
| The Orroral Valley fire has burnt through 9,500 hectares and is expected to grow, although it is now at a watch and act level. Moderate conditions overnight allowed firefighters at the scene to strengthen containment lines. | The Orroral Valley fire has burnt through 9,500 hectares and is expected to grow, although it is now at a watch and act level. Moderate conditions overnight allowed firefighters at the scene to strengthen containment lines. |
| Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the bushfires threatening Canberra today. I’m Luke Henriques-Gomes. | Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the bushfires threatening Canberra today. I’m Luke Henriques-Gomes. |