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| NSW bushfires: up to 20 properties 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 |
| A map of that Mount Tomah, Mount Irvine, Mount Wilson fire. | |
| A few developments here. The ABC has confirmed that up to 20 properties have been destroyed near Mount Irvine, Mount Wilson and Mount Tomah. | |
| RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also confirmed to the ABC that the fire itself was started by a backburning operation. | |
| According to anchor Joe O’Brien, Fitzsimmons said firefighters were “attempting to protect communities around the Bells Line of Road but unfortunately things don’t always go to plan”. | |
| Earlier, deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said in an interview: “We were quite concerned about that fire jumping Bells Line Of Road. Crews backburned to try to prevent. The backburn got away as well. Nothing is working out for crews. | |
| “Unfortunately in these drought conditions, that’s the reality – whatever we try doesn’t seem to be working and, you know, we just got to try to protect as many properties as we can.” | |
| RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has confirmed that dozens of homes have been damaged. He told Nine’s Today Show it was even possible that the local RFS captain lost their home. | RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has confirmed that dozens of homes have been damaged. He told Nine’s Today Show it was even possible that the local RFS captain lost their home. |
| “We have reports of dozens of building, structures having been damaged or destroyed,” he said. “We are just not sure on homes and outbuildings and sheds and those sorts of things. I am hearing reports that even our local members and it might be our local captain have lost their home last night trying to defend their local community.” | “We have reports of dozens of building, structures having been damaged or destroyed,” he said. “We are just not sure on homes and outbuildings and sheds and those sorts of things. I am hearing reports that even our local members and it might be our local captain have lost their home last night trying to defend their local community.” |
| With the heatwave this week making things worse, he said there was an “extraordinary amount of work still to go”. | With the heatwave this week making things worse, he said there was an “extraordinary amount of work still to go”. |
| “The drought is having an absolutely profound effect on the vegetation, and its flammability,” he said. “We are seeing fire burn effectively unimpeded under windy conditions.” | “The drought is having an absolutely profound effect on the vegetation, and its flammability,” he said. “We are seeing fire burn effectively unimpeded under windy conditions.” |
| The latest advice on the Gospers Mountain fire from the RFS. | The latest advice on the Gospers Mountain fire from the RFS. |
| “The fire continues to burn on both sides of the Bells Line of Road, and is now burning in the Gross Valley ... Monitor conditions and know what you will do if fire threatens.” | “The fire continues to burn on both sides of the Bells Line of Road, and is now burning in the Gross Valley ... Monitor conditions and know what you will do if fire threatens.” |
| The huge fire is also burning near Bell, Newnes Junction, Clarence, Colo, the lower and upper Macdonald, Perrys Crossing and Wollomi national park. | The huge fire is also burning near Bell, Newnes Junction, Clarence, Colo, the lower and upper Macdonald, Perrys Crossing and Wollomi national park. |
| According to Sky News, dozens of homes are feared lost near Mount Tomah, as a result of the Gospers Mountain fire. | According to Sky News, dozens of homes are feared lost near Mount Tomah, as a result of the Gospers Mountain fire. |
| But assessment teams will only be sent once the area is deemed safe, which is not expected until later today at least. | But assessment teams will only be sent once the area is deemed safe, which is not expected until later today at least. |
| In SA, it is already 35C in Ceduna and over 38C at Moomba Airport. It’s 29C in the Adelaide city centre. | In SA, it is already 35C in Ceduna and over 38C at Moomba Airport. It’s 29C in the Adelaide city centre. |
| The forecast for Queensland is also sweltering. It’s set to hit 44C for Mount Isa, 44C for Birdsville. 41C in Gympie and Rockhampton, 39C in Brisbane, and 34C in Townsville. | The forecast for Queensland is also sweltering. It’s set to hit 44C for Mount Isa, 44C for Birdsville. 41C in Gympie and Rockhampton, 39C in Brisbane, and 34C in Townsville. |
| And it’s already 38C in Mount Isa, and 32.7C in Brisbane. | And it’s already 38C in Mount Isa, and 32.7C in Brisbane. |
| It’s only 7.30am in WA, but it’s already 31C in Broome – and rising. | It’s only 7.30am in WA, but it’s already 31C in Broome – and rising. |
| According to 7.10am observations from the Bureau of Meteorology, it is 30C in Marble Bar, 27C in Kalgoorlie and 27.5C in Perth. | According to 7.10am observations from the Bureau of Meteorology, it is 30C in Marble Bar, 27C in Kalgoorlie and 27.5C in Perth. |
| That is forecast to rise to 43C in the Kimberley, 40C in Kalgoorlie and 36C in Perth during the day. | That is forecast to rise to 43C in the Kimberley, 40C in Kalgoorlie and 36C in Perth during the day. |
| 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”. | 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”. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. |