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| NSW fires: southerly change expected to fan bushfires as Sydney's air quality remains hazardous – 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 |
| We looked earlier at the overall air quality index but the numbers for the PM2.5 particles (the ones small enough to get deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream) are pretty shocking across the state. | |
| The Department of Health data measures rolling 24-hour averages, and in the past few hours a number of regions have bounced into the red “hazardous” zone, which is above 200. | |
| Armidale in the northern tablelands has hit 542, and to the south-west in Tamworth it has reached 428. | |
| Goulburn in the southern tablelands is also extraordinarily high at 462. | |
| Most of the greater Sydney region is also in the red, with measurements above 300 across the north-west except in Rouse Hill, where it has hit 430. | |
| Sydney’s east ranges from 157 in Earlwood to 353 in Macquarie Park. | |
| Sydney University’s campuses at Camden and Molonglo are still closed to staff, students and visitors, after being evacuated last Thursday. | |
| A limited number of staff attending to the critical care of animals were allowed access to the sites this morning, the uni said, but those people had pre-approval from their line managers and security. | |
| People are being told not to return until at least tomorrow. | |
| A quick update of the current fire situation as that southerly change starts moving through the state. | A quick update of the current fire situation as that southerly change starts moving through the state. |
| Emergency level: | Emergency level: |
| The Three Mile fore, in the central coast, has burned through more than 31,000ha. | |
| Watch and Act level: | Watch and Act level: |
| The Gospers Mountain fire, in the Hawkesbury, has burned through more than 319,000ha. | |
| The Green Wattle Creek fire, south-west of Warragamba Dam Wall in the Blue Mountains national park, has burned through more than 109,000ha. | |
| The Kerry Ridge fire, near Muswellbrook, has burned through more than 53,400ha. | |
| The Little L Complex fire at Singleton has burned through more than 65,900ha. | |
| There are 86 other fires burning. | There are 86 other fires burning. |
| In the context of those health warnings we’ve just heard, here’s the Climate and Health Alliance - a coalition of healthcare stakeholders lobbying for climate change action as a health issued. | In the context of those health warnings we’ve just heard, here’s the Climate and Health Alliance - a coalition of healthcare stakeholders lobbying for climate change action as a health issued. |
| From a NSW Ambulance Service spokesman: | From a NSW Ambulance Service spokesman: |
| “In conditions like these, New South Wales ambulance is responding to between 70 and 100 instances of respiratory illness per day, from asthma to emphysema. | “In conditions like these, New South Wales ambulance is responding to between 70 and 100 instances of respiratory illness per day, from asthma to emphysema. |
| “Today they’ve treated a 93-year-old woman in northern Sydney and a 23-year-old woman in western Sydney, both of whom had pre-existing asthma conditions. | “Today they’ve treated a 93-year-old woman in northern Sydney and a 23-year-old woman in western Sydney, both of whom had pre-existing asthma conditions. |
| “Both of those patients did not have their asthma medication with them. To the vulnerable people in the community – that is children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions that are either respiratory or cardiac-related – we encourage them to say indoors and to have their medications with them. These conditions should not be taken lightly.” | “Both of those patients did not have their asthma medication with them. To the vulnerable people in the community – that is children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions that are either respiratory or cardiac-related – we encourage them to say indoors and to have their medications with them. These conditions should not be taken lightly.” |
| NSW Health is addressing the media, urging people to stay indoors and seek out air-conditioned environments. The air quality is up there with the worst they’ve ever seen, and the southerly change is expected to bring “some relief”. | NSW Health is addressing the media, urging people to stay indoors and seek out air-conditioned environments. The air quality is up there with the worst they’ve ever seen, and the southerly change is expected to bring “some relief”. |
| Sydney has experience poor air quality episodes before, for instance the 2009 dust storm, but this smokey period for the past month is “unprecedented”. | Sydney has experience poor air quality episodes before, for instance the 2009 dust storm, but this smokey period for the past month is “unprecedented”. |
| “Most people are going to be experiencing this as sore eyes, nose and throat, or perhaps a bit of a cough, but there are other people who will find it makes their symptoms worse,” Dr Richard Bruen said. “For example, if you do have asthma or emphysema, it could your respiratory condition worsen.” | “Most people are going to be experiencing this as sore eyes, nose and throat, or perhaps a bit of a cough, but there are other people who will find it makes their symptoms worse,” Dr Richard Bruen said. “For example, if you do have asthma or emphysema, it could your respiratory condition worsen.” |
| Asked about the utility of face masks, they’ve said the “loose fitting material masks” don’t really have a material effect but the P2 or N95 masks are “in theory effective” but need to have a really good fit. | Asked about the utility of face masks, they’ve said the “loose fitting material masks” don’t really have a material effect but the P2 or N95 masks are “in theory effective” but need to have a really good fit. |
| I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Helen Davidson now. Thanks for reading. | I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Helen Davidson now. Thanks for reading. |
| As expected, conditions are worsening as the temperatures drop along with the strong gusty winds moving up through NSW from the south. | As expected, conditions are worsening as the temperatures drop along with the strong gusty winds moving up through NSW from the south. |
| The latest air quality figures have gone live. This covers 12pm - 1pm AEDT, so it’s still half an hour behind. | The latest air quality figures have gone live. This covers 12pm - 1pm AEDT, so it’s still half an hour behind. |
| The maximum AQI has dropped in Sydney 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. | The maximum AQI has dropped in Sydney 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 Marys. That’s up to 11 times hazardous. Parramatta North has dropped marginally to 1719. | They remain over 2000 in the west, at Richmond and St Marys. That’s up to 11 times hazardous. Parramatta North has dropped marginally to 1719. |
| Hazardous levels begin at 200. | 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 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 said the fire has merged with another Wrights Cree fire and was increasing in the areas of Central Mangrove and Kulnura. It said 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. | The RFS said the fire has merged with another Wrights Cree fire and was increasing in the areas of Central Mangrove and Kulnura. It said 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. |