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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/16/australia-bushfires-wa-nsw-qld-fires-new-south-wales-gospers-mountain-sydney-heatwave-latest-updates-live-news
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| NSW bushfires: homes feared lost in Blue Mountains fires near Sydney as extreme heat looms – live | NSW bushfires: homes feared lost in Blue Mountains fires near Sydney as extreme heat looms – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Gospers Mountain megafire burns outside Sydney while fires also threaten in Western Australia, with temperatures expected to rise well above 40C in several states later in the week | Gospers Mountain megafire burns outside Sydney while fires also threaten in Western Australia, with temperatures expected to rise well above 40C in several states later in the week |
| Twenty-two health groups – including the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, Public Health Association of Australia and Lung Foundation Australia – have labelled the bushfire smoke a “public health emergency”. | |
| They have called on Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian to act, saying “governments have a responsibility to protect the people they represent”. | |
| “There is no safe level of air pollution,” the joint statement says. | |
| In August, the Australian Medical Association declared that climate change was a “health emergency”, because of the “clear evidence” showing it would create health risks for people now and in the future. | |
| More homes lost in Bilpin in the Blue Mountains. | |
| And in WA today, the fire danger is extreme for Gascoyne Inland, Eucla and Avon. | And in WA today, the fire danger is extreme for Gascoyne Inland, Eucla and Avon. |
| It is severe for Ashburton inland, inland central west – south, lower west inland, upper great southern, Roe, Mortlock and Ninghan. | It is severe for Ashburton inland, inland central west – south, lower west inland, upper great southern, Roe, Mortlock and Ninghan. |
| New South Wales: | New South Wales: |
| Some of the fire danger ratings for today. | Some of the fire danger ratings for today. |
| Queensland: | Queensland: |
| The Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens are currently closed for a few days, according to a statement, but there is no news on whether they have been directly affected. | |
| “We at the garden are extremely grateful to the emergency service personnel and volunteers who are dedicating their time and efforts to dealing with the devastating bushfires,” management said. | |
| “We will provide further updates on the reopening of the Garden on our social media channels.” | “We will provide further updates on the reopening of the Garden on our social media channels.” |
| There are also fears for the Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens, which lie within the fire area. | There are also fears for the Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens, which lie within the fire area. |
| And homes have already been destroyed, according to photographer Nick Moir, from the Sydney Morning Herald. | And homes have already been destroyed, according to photographer Nick Moir, from the Sydney Morning Herald. |
| The damage done by the Gospers Mountain fire will be on the minds of residents today. On Sunday, the huge blaze was upgraded to emergency, as it jumped containment lines near Bowen Creek. | The damage done by the Gospers Mountain fire will be on the minds of residents today. On Sunday, the huge blaze was upgraded to emergency, as it jumped containment lines near Bowen Creek. |
| There are early reports that properties have been destroyed, near Mount Tomah and Mount Wilson. So far the fire has burned through 380,000 hectares. The firegrounds stretch from Lithgow, through the Hawkesbury and towards the central coast. | There are early reports that properties have been destroyed, near Mount Tomah and Mount Wilson. So far the fire has burned through 380,000 hectares. The firegrounds stretch from Lithgow, through the Hawkesbury and towards the central coast. |
| This morning, the Rural Fire Service said fire activity had “reduced” around the Gospers Mountain blaze, and “there is currently no immediate threat”. But it is expected to worsen as temperatures rise this week. | This morning, the Rural Fire Service said fire activity had “reduced” around the Gospers Mountain blaze, and “there is currently no immediate threat”. But it is expected to worsen as temperatures rise this week. |
| Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the bushfire crisis and this week’s hot weather. | Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the bushfire crisis and this week’s hot weather. |
| Across the country, a severe to extreme heatwave is settling in. Currently, it’s sitting over southern Western Australia and most of South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory – from Broome to Brisbane. In coming days, it will sweep east and south, blanketing most of NSW and the ACT. | Across the country, a severe to extreme heatwave is settling in. Currently, it’s sitting over southern Western Australia and most of South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory – from Broome to Brisbane. In coming days, it will sweep east and south, blanketing most of NSW and the ACT. |
| Over the weekend, the huge Gospers Mountain fire in NSW flared to emergency levels. It is currently at watch and act, but remains a threat to homes. The extent of the damage will become more apparent today. | Over the weekend, the huge Gospers Mountain fire in NSW flared to emergency levels. It is currently at watch and act, but remains a threat to homes. The extent of the damage will become more apparent today. |
| In WA, an emergency warning is still active for a fire near Wilbinga, Woodridge, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates, north of Perth. | In WA, an emergency warning is still active for a fire near Wilbinga, Woodridge, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates, north of Perth. |
| Across the country, it’s forecast to hit 43C in WA’s Kimberley region, 40C in Kalgoorlie, 36C in Perth; 44C in Mount Isa in Queensland, 41C in Rockhampton , 39C in Brisbane; 43C in Oodnadatta in SA, 34C in Adelaide, and 41C in Walgett and Bourke in NSW. | Across the country, it’s forecast to hit 43C in WA’s Kimberley region, 40C in Kalgoorlie, 36C in Perth; 44C in Mount Isa in Queensland, 41C in Rockhampton , 39C in Brisbane; 43C in Oodnadatta in SA, 34C in Adelaide, and 41C in Walgett and Bourke in NSW. |