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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/10/nsw-fires-sydney-smoke-bushfires-qld-australia-new-south-wales-rural-fire-live-news-latest-updates
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| NSW fires: wind change fans bushfires as Sydney smoke causes hazardous air quality – as it happened | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Almost 3,000 firefighters deployed across New South Wales as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn. Follow all the latest updates | Almost 3,000 firefighters deployed across New South Wales as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn. Follow all the latest updates |
| We’ll be leaving the blog here for tonight, here’s a recap of what happened today: | |
| Sydney was shrouded in smoke, as the air quality index reached 11 times higher than “hazardous” in many parts of the city. | |
| Nine fires are currently burning at watch and act level, and one at emergency level (the Little L complex fire). The Three Mile fire was at emergency level at 2pm, but was later downgraded to watch and act. | |
| The prime minister, Scott Morrison, rejected suggestions that volunteer firefighters should be professionalised, or that the federal government should do more, saying the firefighters “want to be there”. | |
| Cricketers playing in the Sheffield Shield at the SCG said the air was “toxic” and called on the sport to review its air quality policy. | |
| Buildings all over Sydney – including RFS headquarters – were evacuated as the smoke triggered fire alarms. | |
| The maximum temperature in Sydney today was 42.4C in Richmond. The dropped to 28C by 4pm, due to a sweeping southerly. | The maximum temperature in Sydney today was 42.4C in Richmond. The dropped to 28C by 4pm, due to a sweeping southerly. |
| An emergency warning has just been issued for the Little L Complex fire, in Yengo national park. | An emergency warning has just been issued for the Little L Complex fire, in Yengo national park. |
| This is the first fire to worsen this evening, after others were downgraded during the day. | This is the first fire to worsen this evening, after others were downgraded during the day. |
| There is increasing fire in the Glenroy Estate area, near Putty Rd, the RFS says. | There is increasing fire in the Glenroy Estate area, near Putty Rd, the RFS says. |
| Earlier today, Sheffield Shield cricketers at the SCG said it was “toxic” playing in heavy smoke. | Earlier today, Sheffield Shield cricketers at the SCG said it was “toxic” playing in heavy smoke. |
| Footage was dramatically hazy but the game was not called off. | Footage was dramatically hazy but the game was not called off. |
| Queensland captain Usman Khawaja said it was “hard to breathe” and New South Wales spinner Steve O’Keefe said Cricket Australia needed to take action and look at its air quality policy. | Queensland captain Usman Khawaja said it was “hard to breathe” and New South Wales spinner Steve O’Keefe said Cricket Australia needed to take action and look at its air quality policy. |
| “For someone like me who smokes 40 a day, it’s now smoking 80 cigarettes a day,” he told AAP. | “For someone like me who smokes 40 a day, it’s now smoking 80 cigarettes a day,” he told AAP. |
| “The one thing they need to look at is the air quality policy. It’s not healthy. It’s toxic ... that was shocking. I don’t have kids but if I did they’d be locked up inside, and if I was at home I wouldn’t be training or playing.” | “The one thing they need to look at is the air quality policy. It’s not healthy. It’s toxic ... that was shocking. I don’t have kids but if I did they’d be locked up inside, and if I was at home I wouldn’t be training or playing.” |
| That rain could fall over fires near Grafton, and the Bangala Creek fire, which is at watch and act, near Tenterfield. Still waiting on an RFS update on this. | That rain could fall over fires near Grafton, and the Bangala Creek fire, which is at watch and act, near Tenterfield. Still waiting on an RFS update on this. |
| A severe thunderstorm warning has just been issued for parts of the mid-north coast and inland. That includes the possibility of hail. | A severe thunderstorm warning has just been issued for parts of the mid-north coast and inland. That includes the possibility of hail. |
| Doctors from some of Sydney’s hardest hit areas have spoken to Melissa Davey about the impacts they are seeing in patients. | Doctors from some of Sydney’s hardest hit areas have spoken to Melissa Davey about the impacts they are seeing in patients. |
| Dr Kim Loo works in Rouse Hill, which recorded some of the worst air quality ratings today. | Dr Kim Loo works in Rouse Hill, which recorded some of the worst air quality ratings today. |
| “My poor patients, many live on the margins of poverty,” she told Guardian Australia. “They live in houses that aren’t sealed. I know there are guidelines telling people to stay inside if they have certain health conditions, but that’s no good if your house isn’t sealed and you can’t afford an air filter.” | “My poor patients, many live on the margins of poverty,” she told Guardian Australia. “They live in houses that aren’t sealed. I know there are guidelines telling people to stay inside if they have certain health conditions, but that’s no good if your house isn’t sealed and you can’t afford an air filter.” |
| At Circular Quay, ferries are severely delayed and passengers are being told they are running 30 minutes or more late. This comes after cancellations due to bushfires earlier in the day. | At Circular Quay, ferries are severely delayed and passengers are being told they are running 30 minutes or more late. This comes after cancellations due to bushfires earlier in the day. |