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| NSW fires: Morrison rejects calls for more firefighters as Sydney suffers under bushfire smoke haze – live | NSW fires: Morrison rejects calls for more firefighters as Sydney suffers under bushfire smoke haze – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Almost 3,000 firefighters deployed across New South Wales as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn and temperatures expected to hit 40C. Follow all the latest updates | Almost 3,000 firefighters deployed across New South Wales as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn and temperatures expected to hit 40C. Follow all the latest updates |
| I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Helen Davidson now. Thanks for reading. | |
| As expected, conditions are worsening as the temperatures rise along with the strong gusty winds moving up through NSW from the south. | |
| The latest air quality figures have gone live. This covers 11am-12pm, so it’s still an hour-and-a-half behind. | |
| The maximum AQI has dropped in the city’s centre (Cook and Phillip) and east (Randwick). Those were hitting over 2000 between 10-11, but are now down to maximums of 1223 and 907. That is still four to five times the hazardous level. | |
| They remain over 2000 in the west, at Richmond and St Mary’s. That’s up to 11 times hazardous. Parramatta North has dropped marginally to 1719. | |
| Hazardous levels begin at 200. | |
| The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for the Three Mile fire near the Hawkesbury River on the state’s Central Coast. | |
| The RFS says the fire has merged with another Wrights Cree fire, and is increasing in the areas of Central Mangrove and Kulnura. The RFS says if you are in those areas it is now too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches and protect yourself from the heat. | |
| “Conditions are expected to deteriorate today with fire expected to spread to the east and north after a southerly change,” the RFS said. | |
| For other areas affected, the Gosford RSL Club has been set up as an evacuation centre. | |
| While the cricketers play on, the smoke has forced the cancellation of the traditional Sydney to Hobart lead-up race for safety reasons. | |
| A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW said all Sydney ferry services were suspended and vessels would remain in port until the smoke lifted. | |
| “We just don’t know when that is going to be. It will be when the smoke lifts and we get the all-clear for the ferry services to resume.” | |
| Replacement bus services are running between Manly and Circular Quay. For passengers on other routes, passengers are advised to seek alternative public transport. | |
| Steve O’Keefe still rolling the arm over despite Sydney’s big end of the world energy. | |
| From Kensington in Sydney’s south-east. | From Kensington in Sydney’s south-east. |
| In some good news, the thick smoke is preventing fire conditions from worsening. | In some good news, the thick smoke is preventing fire conditions from worsening. |
| But, they may worsen in the afternoon, as strong winds pick up. | But, they may worsen in the afternoon, as strong winds pick up. |
| Some live footage from today’s Sheffield Shield game at the SCG. Nearly empty stands, almost invisible players. | Some live footage from today’s Sheffield Shield game at the SCG. Nearly empty stands, almost invisible players. |
| The offices of the Sydney Morning Herald are being evacuated, after their smoke alarm went off. | The offices of the Sydney Morning Herald are being evacuated, after their smoke alarm went off. |
| Sydney’s ferries have now been cancelled due to the smoke. | Sydney’s ferries have now been cancelled due to the smoke. |
| Buses are replacing ferries. | Buses are replacing ferries. |
| Sydney’s air quality has reached as high as 11 times the hazardous level, according to the state’s monitoring index. | Sydney’s air quality has reached as high as 11 times the hazardous level, according to the state’s monitoring index. |
| The worst reading is currently at Macquarie Park in Sydney’s north-west, which recorded air quality of 2,214 between 9am and 10am this morning. Any air quality index reading above 200 is considered hazardous. | The worst reading is currently at Macquarie Park in Sydney’s north-west, which recorded air quality of 2,214 between 9am and 10am this morning. Any air quality index reading above 200 is considered hazardous. |
| Prospect in Sydney’s north reached 2,075 and Parramatta North has reached 2,024 with levels continuing to rise. | Prospect in Sydney’s north reached 2,075 and Parramatta North has reached 2,024 with levels continuing to rise. |
| Liam Gallagher is in Sydney and has weighed in on the smoke. | Liam Gallagher is in Sydney and has weighed in on the smoke. |
| A few views of Sydney... | A few views of Sydney... |
| Severe heatwave conditions combined with “grotty” smoke pollution will put stress on vulnerable people in the coming days, authorities have warned. | Severe heatwave conditions combined with “grotty” smoke pollution will put stress on vulnerable people in the coming days, authorities have warned. |
| The haze may cause breathing issues for those with heart or lung disease, while Sydneysiders have been encouraged to stay indoors and avoid exercise. | The haze may cause breathing issues for those with heart or lung disease, while Sydneysiders have been encouraged to stay indoors and avoid exercise. |
| NSW Health environmental health director Dr Richard Broome said Tuesday would be “very hot and very smoky”. | NSW Health environmental health director Dr Richard Broome said Tuesday would be “very hot and very smoky”. |
| “It’s going to be putting a lot of stress on vulnerable people, particularly elderly people who have existing heart and lung conditions,” Broome told reporters. | “It’s going to be putting a lot of stress on vulnerable people, particularly elderly people who have existing heart and lung conditions,” Broome told reporters. |
| Asked about concerns about the time that volunteer firefighters are being asked to continue volunteering without pay, and reports they’re crowd-sourcing funds for water and food on the ground, the prime minister Scott Morrison rejected the suggestion the federal government could do more. | Asked about concerns about the time that volunteer firefighters are being asked to continue volunteering without pay, and reports they’re crowd-sourcing funds for water and food on the ground, the prime minister Scott Morrison rejected the suggestion the federal government could do more. |
| Speaking in Sydney a few minutes ago Morrison said: | Speaking in Sydney a few minutes ago Morrison said: |
| He also rejected suggestions the country’s volunteer firefighting forces should be professionalised: | He also rejected suggestions the country’s volunteer firefighting forces should be professionalised: |