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NSW bushfires: up to 20 properties lost in Blue Mountains fires near Sydney as extreme heat looms – live WA and NSW bushfires: properties lost in Blue Mountains as blazes intensify north of Perth – 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 Up to 20 properties lost as 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
A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for Woodridge, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates, as well as Caraban and Wilbinga, in the City of Wanneroo and Shire of Gingin north of Yanchep, WA. Emergency WA has issued an updated watch and act alert for the Mogumber fire, 50km north of Perth.
The alert covers parts of New Norcia, Glentromie, Regans Ford, Yathroo, Gillingarra, Mogumber and Yarawindah.
About 50 firefighters are on scene and actively fighting the fire, which was reported just before 2pm yesterday. It’s currently 7,500ha in size.
This is a satellite hotspot animation of the NSW south coast bushfires, one covering 37,425 hectares near Braidwood, and the larger one covering 89,264 hectares north of Bateman’s Bay.
Further watch-and-act alert for WA
I am taking over from my colleague Naaman Zhou, as bushfire activity starts to pick up in Western Australia.
Along with that emergency warning, Emergency WA has issued a watch and act for Guilderton, Eglinton, Sovereign Hill (WA), Redfield Park, Yanchep and Two Rocks.
There is a possible threat to lives and homes. People in Eglinton, Yanchep and Two Rocks, as well as Gabbadah and Neergabby, have been advised to evacuate by heading south along Two Rocks Road and Marmion Avenue.
A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for Woodridge, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates, as well as Caraban and Wilbinga, in the city of Wanneroo and shire of Gingin north of Yanchep, Western Australia.
Emergency WA says people in those areas are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.Emergency WA says people in those areas are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
People in Woodridge and the localities of Caraban and Wilbinga should leave in an easterly direction towards Indian Ocean Drive and use Gingin Brook Road to travel towards Gingin. There is an evacuation centre available at Granville Civic Centre, Weld Street, Gingin.People in Woodridge and the localities of Caraban and Wilbinga should leave in an easterly direction towards Indian Ocean Drive and use Gingin Brook Road to travel towards Gingin. There is an evacuation centre available at Granville Civic Centre, Weld Street, Gingin.
People in Seatrees and Breakwater Estates should leave in a westerly direction towards Two Rocks, and then leave south along Two Rocks Road and Marmion Avenue.People in Seatrees and Breakwater Estates should leave in a westerly direction towards Two Rocks, and then leave south along Two Rocks Road and Marmion Avenue.
From the alert:From the alert:
Waterbombing aircraft have been sent to a fire on the Kings Highway near Bungendore. The grass fire is still at advice levels, and RFS says crews are on the scene.Waterbombing aircraft have been sent to a fire on the Kings Highway near Bungendore. The grass fire is still at advice levels, and RFS says crews are on the scene.
The huge Gospers Mountain fire has flared back to emergency levels on its south-west front.The huge Gospers Mountain fire has flared back to emergency levels on its south-west front.
The fire has crossed Wolgan Road, and residents in the Wolgan Valley area are advised it is too late to leave.The fire has crossed Wolgan Road, and residents in the Wolgan Valley area are advised it is too late to leave.
It is moving north in the Angus Place, Lidsdale and Wolgan areas.It is moving north in the Angus Place, Lidsdale and Wolgan areas.
The multi-front fire is spreading out in multiple directions and is more than 378,000 hectares in size.The multi-front fire is spreading out in multiple directions and is more than 378,000 hectares in size.
Increasing fire activity at the Myall Creek Road fire, which is at watch and act.Increasing fire activity at the Myall Creek Road fire, which is at watch and act.
Federal Labor MP for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, says she saw damaged homes in Mt Tomah, Bilpin and Berambing today.Federal Labor MP for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, says she saw damaged homes in Mt Tomah, Bilpin and Berambing today.
An emergency warning has been issued for Upper Turon Road, Palmers Oaky.An emergency warning has been issued for Upper Turon Road, Palmers Oaky.
According to the RFS, the fire is burning in the Razorback Road and Cherrytree area. It is heading in a north-easterly direction towards Castlereagh Highway.According to the RFS, the fire is burning in the Razorback Road and Cherrytree area. It is heading in a north-easterly direction towards Castlereagh Highway.
The fire is more than 1,000 hectares in size and is out of control.The fire is more than 1,000 hectares in size and is out of control.
“If you are in the path of the fire, you are at risk,” the RFS says.“If you are in the path of the fire, you are at risk,” the RFS says.
Some sad news from the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens. According to a statement on the website, there has been some impact from the fires.
“We are still assessing the extent of the damage, however the impact on some parts of the Garden appears to be significant,” it says. “Thankfully, most of the Garden’s Living Collection along with the main buildings are safe at the moment.
“We at the Garden are extremely grateful to our local staff, the local community, the emergency service personnel and the volunteers who are dedicating their time and efforts to dealing with the devastating bushfires.
“At this stage, we anticipate it will be at least a week until the Garden can be reopened to visitors.”
In South Australia, it is 40C in Oodnadatta, 39C in Port Augusta and 32C in Adelaide.
In NSW, it is 38.1C in Bourke, 37.8C in Walgett and 34C in Lismore.
The latest temperatures around the country:
In WA, it’s already 37.2C at Marble Bar, 36C in Broome, 36C in Kalgoorlie and, as mentioned, 35.8C in Perth.
In Queensland, Birdsville is at 41.5C, Gympie at 38.5C and at Brisbane 39.3C.
And some more detail on the fire created by backburning near Mount Tomah, Mount Wilson and Bilpin.
“There was backburning in the area and unfortunately, due to the conditions they’re burning in, it’s taken one ember to cross over the wrong side and that’s where it took a run,” an RFS spokeswoman told AAP.
The affected properties are thought to be in the Mount Wilson and Bilpin areas.
Endeavour Energy also told AAP 450 customers were without power in the upper Blue Mountains after the Gospers Mountain bushfire damaged powerlines.
The fire has been burning for six days, and Perth has experienced three consecutive days above 40C (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Today, it is currently 35.8C (at 10.30am local time).
At least one house has been destroyed in the WA fire, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has told AAP. A petrol station was also destroyed, and more than 250 properties are without power.
The latest advice for the Wilbinga/Yanchep fire, north of Perth, which is still burning at emergency level.
“People in Woodridge and the localities of Caraban and Wilbinga should leave in an easterly direction towards Indian Ocean Drive and use Gingin Brook Road to travel towards Gingin. There is an evacuation centre available at Granville Civic Centre, Weld Street, Gingin.
“People in Seatrees and Breakwater Estates should leave in a westerly direction towards Two Rocks, and then leave south along Two Rocks Road and Marmion Avenue.
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.”
The fire bans in Queensland have been extended.
We previously used satellite hotspot data to visualise how various how fires spread over time.
Here is an updated visualisation of the Gospers Mountain megafire.
Just to repeat the caveats from our initial datablog: the map is not exactly to scale, as the satellite detection has a resolution of 1km square, and it’s possible for fires to be obscured from satellite by smoke or clouds. Hotspots can also show up where there isn’t a bushfire for other reasons, but we’ve tried to filter these out where possible.
The circles fade to black over time to give an idea of the area burned, but it’s worth pointing out that it only covers fires within the time period shown, so the actual burned area will be greater than what is shown here, particularly in areas where fires have been burning on and off for months.
Jon Russell, a volunteer fire brigade captain from the northern beaches, has spent the night out at the Gospers Mountain fire where backburning operations near Mt Tomah went out of control and took out up to 20 properties.
“We’d been told properties had come under attack, that this fire had just gathered momentum,” he said.
“The Hills district [brigades] were there, from the Cumberland zone, they were there from everywhere... it was a case of just ‘pick a house and protect it’.”
He described lining up his truck in front of a house, remarking to a colleague John Duffy (who filmed that incredible footage above), that if a nearby area of bush caught alight there’d be little they could do, and they’d have to leave.
“Then in an instant that area of bush just went boom.”
“We just went from daylight to nighttime in a instant. It’s a very eerie feeling for new people. I’ve been at this a long time, I’ve been captain of my brigade 18 years. It was an experience for everybody that we’ll never forget.”