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NSW fires: 'very dangerous day' for bushfires as Sydney shrouded in smoke and temperatures soar – live NSW fires: 'very dangerous day' for bushfires as Sydney shrouded in smoke and temperatures soar – live
(32 minutes later)
Almost 3,000 firefighters across New South Wales will be deployed as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn and temperatures are expected to hit 40C. Follow all the latest updatesAlmost 3,000 firefighters across New South Wales will be deployed as more than 80 bushfires continue to burn and temperatures are expected to hit 40C. Follow all the latest updates
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.
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.
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:
He also rejected suggestions the country’s volunteer firefighting forces should be professionalised:
Smoke alarms continue to go off at random because of the thick smoke covering so much of Sydney and the rest of the state.
Parts of the University of New South Wales have had to be evacuated, as has Fisher Library at the University of Sydney and the ABC’s Central Coast studio which has been evacuated twice on Tuesday morning.
https://twitter.com/alix_thoeming/status/1204197285497733120
Elsewhere, fog horns are going off across Sydney harbour as ferries try to find their way through the thick haze.
Air quality across NSW continues to decline.Air quality across NSW continues to decline.
By 9am PM2.5 fine particle readings had reached “very poor” to “hazardous” in much of Sydney, the Hunter and central coast and Illawarra regions.By 9am PM2.5 fine particle readings had reached “very poor” to “hazardous” in much of Sydney, the Hunter and central coast and Illawarra regions.
The worst readings, between 262 and 337 on the air quality index over a 24-hour rolling average, have been in the north-west around Richmond and St Marys. Some parts of Sydney have recorded levels of 1789 on the index, where anything above 200 is considered hazardous.The worst readings, between 262 and 337 on the air quality index over a 24-hour rolling average, have been in the north-west around Richmond and St Marys. Some parts of Sydney have recorded levels of 1789 on the index, where anything above 200 is considered hazardous.
Most of the upper Hunter, and the central, southern and northern tablelands are also experiencing hazardous air quality, according to the Department of Planning and Environment.Most of the upper Hunter, and the central, southern and northern tablelands are also experiencing hazardous air quality, according to the Department of Planning and Environment.
If you’re unfamiliar with what a PM2.5 fine particle is, my colleague Naaman Zhou has helpfully explained it here:If you’re unfamiliar with what a PM2.5 fine particle is, my colleague Naaman Zhou has helpfully explained it here:
The Green Wattle Creek fire burning in Wollondilly west of Sydney has now been upgraded to watch and act. The fire has already burned through about 100,000 hectares.The Green Wattle Creek fire burning in Wollondilly west of Sydney has now been upgraded to watch and act. The fire has already burned through about 100,000 hectares.
The RFS says the fire is burning on both sides of Lake Burragorang and that activity is increasing across the fireground.The RFS says the fire is burning on both sides of Lake Burragorang and that activity is increasing across the fireground.
Quite a few reports of this today, now it appears the RFS headquarters in Sydney has been briefly evacuated after smoke alarms were triggered.Quite a few reports of this today, now it appears the RFS headquarters in Sydney has been briefly evacuated after smoke alarms were triggered.
Sydneysiders love to refer to the glory index; that is, how glorious the city is looking on any given day. Sad to report that, like the air quality, today’s is very, very low.Sydneysiders love to refer to the glory index; that is, how glorious the city is looking on any given day. Sad to report that, like the air quality, today’s is very, very low.
Meanwhile in Victoria there are still 12 bushfires burning, with evacuation warnings still in place in the state’s East Gippsland region.Meanwhile in Victoria there are still 12 bushfires burning, with evacuation warnings still in place in the state’s East Gippsland region.
A watch-and-act warning remains in place for residents on the Timbarra settlement, about 340km north-east of Melbourne, after a blaze began during Monday’s extreme heat.A watch-and-act warning remains in place for residents on the Timbarra settlement, about 340km north-east of Melbourne, after a blaze began during Monday’s extreme heat.
“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly,” the warning reads on Tuesday morning.“Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly,” the warning reads on Tuesday morning.
A bushfire directly south of Timbarra, in the town of Ensay, is also out of control with a watch-and-act warning in place for residents in Ensay North, Holstons and Reedy Flat.A bushfire directly south of Timbarra, in the town of Ensay, is also out of control with a watch-and-act warning in place for residents in Ensay North, Holstons and Reedy Flat.
About 100 firefighters are working to put out the blaze, with an emergency warning downgraded overnight, AAP reports.About 100 firefighters are working to put out the blaze, with an emergency warning downgraded overnight, AAP reports.
Another 10 bushfires are burning across the state, covering about 47,000 hectares, according to the Country Fire Authority.Another 10 bushfires are burning across the state, covering about 47,000 hectares, according to the Country Fire Authority.
“The fires mainly cover remote forest regions, where extreme dryness and rough terrain is making it difficult for firefighters to reach,” a spokeswoman said.“The fires mainly cover remote forest regions, where extreme dryness and rough terrain is making it difficult for firefighters to reach,” a spokeswoman said.
Northern and north-east Victoria remains at very high bushfire risk despite the cool change overnight.Northern and north-east Victoria remains at very high bushfire risk despite the cool change overnight.
The Gospers Mountain fire has already merged with the fire at Kerry Ridge further north, but as the RFS map shows there is a real possibility that it could also join with the fire at Three Mile Creek. That would create a huge fire front for firefighters.The Gospers Mountain fire has already merged with the fire at Kerry Ridge further north, but as the RFS map shows there is a real possibility that it could also join with the fire at Three Mile Creek. That would create a huge fire front for firefighters.
Two more blazes – the Kerry Ridge fire near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley and the Three Mile fire on the central coast – have been upgraded to watch and act by the Rural Fire Service.Two more blazes – the Kerry Ridge fire near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley and the Three Mile fire on the central coast – have been upgraded to watch and act by the Rural Fire Service.
The Three Mile fire has merged with the separate Wrights Creek fire. The RFS says the fire is increasing in the area of Bloodtree Road at Kulnur.The Three Mile fire has merged with the separate Wrights Creek fire. The RFS says the fire is increasing in the area of Bloodtree Road at Kulnur.
The Kerry Ridge fire continues to burn within the Wollemi national park but has now moved east into the Putty state forest, as well as west into the Coricudgy state forest. The RFS says the blaze, in combination with the Gospers Mountain fire, has moved towards some isolated rural properties.The Kerry Ridge fire continues to burn within the Wollemi national park but has now moved east into the Putty state forest, as well as west into the Coricudgy state forest. The RFS says the blaze, in combination with the Gospers Mountain fire, has moved towards some isolated rural properties.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has updated the status of the mega blaze at Gospers Mountain on the central coast to watch and act, saying activity has “increased across the fireground”.The NSW Rural Fire Service has updated the status of the mega blaze at Gospers Mountain on the central coast to watch and act, saying activity has “increased across the fireground”.
There are a number of fires burning across the Hawkesbury, including at Gospers Mountain where the fire is burning between Newnes and Wisemans Ferry, Putty (St Albans) and Central Colo. The fire has burned through more than 319,000 hectares.There are a number of fires burning across the Hawkesbury, including at Gospers Mountain where the fire is burning between Newnes and Wisemans Ferry, Putty (St Albans) and Central Colo. The fire has burned through more than 319,000 hectares.
“Conditions are expected to deteriorate today. This may see the fire spread to the east and north following a southerly change,” the RFS says.“Conditions are expected to deteriorate today. This may see the fire spread to the east and north following a southerly change,” the RFS says.
The smoke isn’t just affecting Sydney, believe it or not. Here’s two pictures of the same view across the Hawkesbury River on the NSW central coast. The first, which shows backburning operations, was taken last night. The second, which shows nothing, is from this morning.The smoke isn’t just affecting Sydney, believe it or not. Here’s two pictures of the same view across the Hawkesbury River on the NSW central coast. The first, which shows backburning operations, was taken last night. The second, which shows nothing, is from this morning.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to reporters from smoke-covered Sydney on Tuesday.
“As we can see here, standing on the lawn in Sydney, there are fires across Australia today, particularly here in New South Wales with a mega fire to our north-west which I had the opportunity to be briefed on on the weekend when I visited Wilberforce and the control centre there,” he said.
“But up in Queensland, in Victoria, in South Australia, there are heatwave conditions here on the east coast today. I would just ask, as always, these fires have been going on for months now, not just weeks, and to continue to follow the instructions of fire authorities in your respective states, to be aware of the information that has been provided.”
Our Canberra photographer Mike Bowers took these shots of the sun setting through a cloud of bushfire smoke hanging over Parliament House on Monday evening.
Andy Ball has made several updates to our map which demonstrates the immense scale of the bushfires. The area burned in NSW and Queensland is now a staggering 2.9m hectares, which is larger than many small countries – somewhere around the size of Albania.
We also had many requests from people to add more locations for comparison, so it is now possible to reposition the map, and Andy has added a larger number of cities.
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay thanks the more than 2,000 firefighters on the ground across the state.
“We know you are weary,” she writes.
The bushfire smoke has delivered a haunting sunrise over Parliament House in the nation’s capital.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a southerly wind this afternoon will help ease the smoke choking Sydney this morning, though it may not help firefighters battling blazes across the rest of the state.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has just been speaking about the bushfire crisis. He says there are 111 aircraft working to battle fires not just in NSW but also in Victoria and Queensland.
Sydney has again woken to a thick blanket of smoke, with officials issuing a “poor” air quality alert for the city on Tuesday morning.
By 5am, air quality was graded as “very poor” to “hazardous” in parts of Sydney’s north-west and south-west as well across the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Air quality also remained “very poor” in Lismore in the state’s north.
Good morning,
New South Wales is staring down another difficult day of bushfire danger, with smoke pollution set to smother Sydney and temperatures to soar past 40C.
The Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, warned on Monday that while wind conditions won’t be as difficult as previous high fire danger days, that could be cancelled out by the high temperatures and low humidity expected on Tuesday.
“It’s not as bad as the catastrophic weather we had weeks ago but it’s certainly going to be another difficult day, particularly given the scale and complexity of these fires and their proximity to so much more built-up and populated areas,” he told reporters on Monday.
Almost 3,000 firefighters will be deployed to fight the more than 80 bushfires which continue to burn across the state, including a so-called mega-fire north-west of Sydney, which was formed when the huge Gospers Mountain blaze merged with the neighbouring Little L Complex, Paddock Run, Three Mile and Kerry Ridge fires.
Total fire bans are in place for nine regions across NSW on Tuesday, including in Sydney, amid fears that temperatures in the high 30s to 40s and strengthening winds will fuel existing fires and potentially ignite new ones.
Along with Sydney, total fire bans are in place with “severe” fire danger forecast in the Hunter, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, southern ranges, central ranges, Monaro Alpine and the ACT.