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| NSW and SA fires: five million hectares burned in Australia's bushfires – as it happened | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison announces that public servants taking leave to fight fires will have additional paid leave. Follow the latest news and updates | Prime minister Scott Morrison announces that public servants taking leave to fight fires will have additional paid leave. Follow the latest news and updates |
| And with that, we will leave you for today. Our thoughts are with everyone who is being affected by this unfolding tragedy. | |
| Thank you for following along today, we hope it was useful and informative. Wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas. | |
| Let’s go over what happened today. | |
| The NSW RFS confirmed 873 homes and 2048 outbuildings were destroyed and 353 were damaged since Thursday. | |
| Another 100 homes are believed to be lost, but the RFS is yet to finalise assessments. | |
| The Morrison government announced that public servants taking leave to fight fires would be given four weeks’ paid leave. | |
| A total of 86 fires were still burning through NSW as conditions improved, but crews are preparing for dangerous weather later this week. | |
| And it was confirmed that the total area burned in bushfires across Australia since spring is 5m hectares. | |
| Scott Morrison has certainly been out and about since he arrived back from his much-maligned holiday in Hawaii. He has since apologised for the trip and, as promised, hit the ground running. | |
| A count of the media alerts blasted out from the PM’s office suggests he’s done at least 13 official visits – across NSW and SA – since his first at 8am on Sunday to the NSW RFS headquarters. | |
| In NSW, the PM has also visited the evacuation centre at Mudgee and Picton and local RFS teams at Cudgegon and Ilford. In South Australia, Morrison met fire crews at Mt Barker and Woodside, where he also visited fire-damaged properties. | |
| Still, one firefighter interviewed by Channel Seven was not satisfied by the PM’s visit. | |
| A final thought: while the PM was away, his deputy, Michael McCormack, was asked by the media why he had mostly remained in Wagga Wagga. | |
| He replied: “You don’t want to get in the way of these professional people doing their job. I’m doing what I can from where I am ... I’ve already been there this week.” | |
| Clearly his boss now disagrees. | |
| Let’s take a look at the top temperatures from each state and territory today. | Let’s take a look at the top temperatures from each state and territory today. |
| I’ve taken these figures from the Bureau of Meteorology. Remember that WA is three hours behind the east coast. | I’ve taken these figures from the Bureau of Meteorology. Remember that WA is three hours behind the east coast. |
| New South Wales: 42.9C at Smithville | New South Wales: 42.9C at Smithville |
| Victoria: 37.3C at Yarrawonga | Victoria: 37.3C at Yarrawonga |
| Queensland: 49.3 at Birdsville | Queensland: 49.3 at Birdsville |
| Western Australia: 47.2C at Telfer | Western Australia: 47.2C at Telfer |
| South Australia: 48C at Oodnadatta | South Australia: 48C at Oodnadatta |
| Tasmania: 25.7C at Scotts Peak | Tasmania: 25.7C at Scotts Peak |
| Northern Territory: 47.1C at Jervois and Yulara. | Northern Territory: 47.1C at Jervois and Yulara. |
| ACT: 29.2C at Tuggeranong | ACT: 29.2C at Tuggeranong |
| The scale of the destruction left by the Cudlee Creek fires in the Adelaide Hills has come into greater focus as the tally for the number of livestock killed in the blaze was released this afternoon. | The scale of the destruction left by the Cudlee Creek fires in the Adelaide Hills has come into greater focus as the tally for the number of livestock killed in the blaze was released this afternoon. |
| The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (Pirsa) is currently taking stock of the damage in the wake of the fire, which consumed 25,000ha in a rich agricultural region that contains a third of the region’s wine industry. | The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (Pirsa) is currently taking stock of the damage in the wake of the fire, which consumed 25,000ha in a rich agricultural region that contains a third of the region’s wine industry. |
| While no firm figures are available on the loss to the wine industry, early surveys of the 537 properties within the area registered as having livestock present put the number of animals killed in the blaze at 2,700 as of this afternoon. This includes 2635 sheep, 139 cattle, 15 chicken and a horse. | While no firm figures are available on the loss to the wine industry, early surveys of the 537 properties within the area registered as having livestock present put the number of animals killed in the blaze at 2,700 as of this afternoon. This includes 2635 sheep, 139 cattle, 15 chicken and a horse. |
| In a statement, the state controller for agricultural and animal services (Savem), Mehdi Doroudi, said that number was expected to rise as the initial assessments were finalised. | In a statement, the state controller for agricultural and animal services (Savem), Mehdi Doroudi, said that number was expected to rise as the initial assessments were finalised. |
| Livestock owners who need an urgent assessment of lost livestock can contact the department through its hotline on 1800 255 556. Bushfire-related advice for caring for stock can be found on Pirsa’s website. | |
| For help with injured or stray wildlife or companion animals, people are urged to get in touch with Savem on 8297 2299. | For help with injured or stray wildlife or companion animals, people are urged to get in touch with Savem on 8297 2299. |
| This season’s devastating bushfires have not stopped volunteer firefighters in Avoca Beach continuing their Christmas Eve tradition of bringing Santa to the streets of the suburb on the NSW central coast, throwing lollies to kids as they go. | This season’s devastating bushfires have not stopped volunteer firefighters in Avoca Beach continuing their Christmas Eve tradition of bringing Santa to the streets of the suburb on the NSW central coast, throwing lollies to kids as they go. |
| The crews have just returned from fighting the fire in Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, and before that the Three Mile blaze, which became part of the megafire north of Sydney. They have also been collecting donations for the families of the two firefighters – Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer – who died in Buxton last week. | The crews have just returned from fighting the fire in Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, and before that the Three Mile blaze, which became part of the megafire north of Sydney. They have also been collecting donations for the families of the two firefighters – Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer – who died in Buxton last week. |
| The Bom says there will be extreme heatwave conditions for much of the country, starting from Saturday. | The Bom says there will be extreme heatwave conditions for much of the country, starting from Saturday. |
| This is a touching piece by Jessica Friedmann about how Braidwood, a town along the Kings Highway, has been impacted by the fires. Once nicknamed “Deadwood”, the town has been rejuvenated in recent years. Now, the closure of the highway has starved businesses of the passing trade they rely on. | This is a touching piece by Jessica Friedmann about how Braidwood, a town along the Kings Highway, has been impacted by the fires. Once nicknamed “Deadwood”, the town has been rejuvenated in recent years. Now, the closure of the highway has starved businesses of the passing trade they rely on. |
| Anthony Albanese has issued this statement in response to the government’s announcement that volunteer firefighters who work in the public service will get paid leave. | Anthony Albanese has issued this statement in response to the government’s announcement that volunteer firefighters who work in the public service will get paid leave. |
| Let’s hope this continues and extends out to where it’s most needed, although authorities have said they aren’t expecting the level of rainfall needed. | Let’s hope this continues and extends out to where it’s most needed, although authorities have said they aren’t expecting the level of rainfall needed. |
| Here’s an interesting story from Yahoo Finance, which reports a surge in interest from Australians wanting to become volunteer firefighters. | |
| A NSW RFS spokesperson told Yahoo Finance: “We have seen a significant increase in the number of people enquiring about how to join the NSW RFS on our website. | |
| “We have received around 10,000 website enquiries since 1 July 2019. For the whole of FY18/19 we received 3,140.” | “We have received around 10,000 website enquiries since 1 July 2019. For the whole of FY18/19 we received 3,140.” |
| Google searches asking “how to become a volunteer firefighter” are at their highest level since 2004 – higher than during the 2009 Black Saturday figures, Yahoo reports. | |
| Hi everyone, this is Luke Henriques-Gomes, taking over from Helen Davidson. Thanks for all your work, Helen. I’ll be with you through to the evening. If you want to bring anything to my attention, you can email me at luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or contact me on Twitter (@lukehgomes). | Hi everyone, this is Luke Henriques-Gomes, taking over from Helen Davidson. Thanks for all your work, Helen. I’ll be with you through to the evening. If you want to bring anything to my attention, you can email me at luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or contact me on Twitter (@lukehgomes). |