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| NSW and SA fires live: five million hectares burned in Australia's bushfires – latest updates | NSW and SA fires live: five million hectares burned in Australia's bushfires – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Volunteer firefighters call for financial support, saying the situation on the ground is ‘out of control’ as the nation’s bushfires crisis continues. Follow the latest news and updates | Volunteer firefighters call for financial support, saying the situation on the ground is ‘out of control’ as the nation’s bushfires crisis continues. Follow the latest news and updates |
| The Law Society and the Legal Services Commission of South Australia is reminding people in the state that there is free legal advice available for those affected by the bushfire disaster. | |
| The Law Society maintains a register of lawyers who have volunteered to be on hand to provide free legal assistance to victims of disasters. For more information please contact disaster.planning@lawsocietysa.asn.au. | |
| For urgent legal advice and information please contact the Legal Services Commission which operates a free telephone advisory service on weekdays between 9am – 4.30pm (excluding Public Holidays) on 1300 366 424. | |
| Morrison appeared on South Australia’s 5AA radio this morning where he was asked by host Tony Pilkington about firefighting resources and compensation. | |
| The short version is Morrison was asked whether the government should be funding the stuff that people are telling them needs to be funded, and the answer was that if people tell the government something needs to be funded, they will look at funding it. | |
| Which seems to be answering a question about an actual occurrence as though it was a question about a hypothetical, but maybe I’m getting a bit cynical in my search for some concrete plans laid out in a well-structured sentence. | |
| Anyway, they’ll talk about it at the Coag meeting in March apparently. | |
| Here’s the long version, courtesy of the prime minister’s office: | |
| Western Australia has offered a slight revision to the total number of hectares burned in WA since the start of November. | Western Australia has offered a slight revision to the total number of hectares burned in WA since the start of November. |
| Yesterday the rough figure, not including all fires managed by the local government bush fire brigades, was 374,000ha. | Yesterday the rough figure, not including all fires managed by the local government bush fire brigades, was 374,000ha. |
| Today those local government figures have been counted, and the total is 1.2m.That brings the total area burned in bushfires across Australia since spring to about five million hectares. | Today those local government figures have been counted, and the total is 1.2m.That brings the total area burned in bushfires across Australia since spring to about five million hectares. |
| That’s about the same size as Costa Rica. | That’s about the same size as Costa Rica. |
| The reason for the different figures is this: in Western Australia, management of bushfires is split between Parks, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), and the local government run volunteer bushfire brigades. | The reason for the different figures is this: in Western Australia, management of bushfires is split between Parks, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), and the local government run volunteer bushfire brigades. |
| The latter do not always immediately report in the size of their fires to DFES, and in the Kimberley, fires can get quite big. Someone at DFES did the math for us overnight. | The latter do not always immediately report in the size of their fires to DFES, and in the Kimberley, fires can get quite big. Someone at DFES did the math for us overnight. |
| The Kerry Ridge fire, on the north-west edge of the Mount Gospers and joined to the Oaky Creek and Paddock Run fires, has been upgraded to watch and act with activity increasing in Nullo Mountain. | The Kerry Ridge fire, on the north-west edge of the Mount Gospers and joined to the Oaky Creek and Paddock Run fires, has been upgraded to watch and act with activity increasing in Nullo Mountain. |
| “The fire continues to burn on multiple fronts in the Wollemi national park, Putty state forest, Coricudgy state forest and Nullo Mountain state forest,” says the RFS. | “The fire continues to burn on multiple fronts in the Wollemi national park, Putty state forest, Coricudgy state forest and Nullo Mountain state forest,” says the RFS. |
| “Firefighters supported by heavy plant and water-bombing aircraft continue working to establish containment lines.” | “Firefighters supported by heavy plant and water-bombing aircraft continue working to establish containment lines.” |
| People in Nullo Mountain, Olinda and Bogee to the west, Howes Valley, Appletree Flat, and Doyles Creek to the east, and Widden, Baerami, Baerami Creek, and Martindale to the north, are warned to monitor conditions and know what they’ll do if the fire threatens. | People in Nullo Mountain, Olinda and Bogee to the west, Howes Valley, Appletree Flat, and Doyles Creek to the east, and Widden, Baerami, Baerami Creek, and Martindale to the north, are warned to monitor conditions and know what they’ll do if the fire threatens. |
| There is “overwhelming support” from the community, says Balmoral RFS volunteer Andrew Johnston, in this emotional interview with Nine News. | There is “overwhelming support” from the community, says Balmoral RFS volunteer Andrew Johnston, in this emotional interview with Nine News. |
| “We just tried so hard to save people’s homes. You can see in the shed we’ve got everything in the shed for everyone... for people who lost their homes. It’s just awesome, the community spirit, the Aussie spirit all around.” | “We just tried so hard to save people’s homes. You can see in the shed we’ve got everything in the shed for everyone... for people who lost their homes. It’s just awesome, the community spirit, the Aussie spirit all around.” |
| If you are wondering how you can help, here is a short guide. A lot of individual RFS brigades also have more specific information on their Facebook pages. | If you are wondering how you can help, here is a short guide. A lot of individual RFS brigades also have more specific information on their Facebook pages. |
| Hello, this is Helen Davidson taking over the blog from Calla Wahlquist. | Hello, this is Helen Davidson taking over the blog from Calla Wahlquist. |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison will be addressing media from South Australia soon. | Prime minister Scott Morrison will be addressing media from South Australia soon. |
| In the meantime, here is a round up of what fire authorities expect to happen next, state by state. | In the meantime, here is a round up of what fire authorities expect to happen next, state by state. |
| More than four million hectares of Australia have burned and nine people have died since September in the “unprecedented” start to the summer fire season. | More than four million hectares of Australia have burned and nine people have died since September in the “unprecedented” start to the summer fire season. |
| Emergency Victoria has issued an updated watch-and-act alert for the Marthavale-Barmouth Spur fire at Tambo Crossing. | Emergency Victoria has issued an updated watch-and-act alert for the Marthavale-Barmouth Spur fire at Tambo Crossing. |
| The Great Alpine Road – the only way in and out without going around the mountain – remains closed between Ensay and Bruthen and there is heavy smoke throughout Tambo Valley. The fire is being monitored through aerial patrols and ground crews are in the area, though as reported earlier they are not attacking the fire directly because it is too dangerous to send crews into that terrain. | The Great Alpine Road – the only way in and out without going around the mountain – remains closed between Ensay and Bruthen and there is heavy smoke throughout Tambo Valley. The fire is being monitored through aerial patrols and ground crews are in the area, though as reported earlier they are not attacking the fire directly because it is too dangerous to send crews into that terrain. |
| Residents are warned that their water supply “may become contaminated with debris, ash, soot, fire retardant or dead animals”, which is unpleasant. | Residents are warned that their water supply “may become contaminated with debris, ash, soot, fire retardant or dead animals”, which is unpleasant. |
| While we wait for Scott Morrison to address the media in South Australia, where he is visiting properties including a winery impacted by the Cudlee Creek fire, and a church that is holding a donation drive for affected families, here is an aerial view of the damage. | While we wait for Scott Morrison to address the media in South Australia, where he is visiting properties including a winery impacted by the Cudlee Creek fire, and a church that is holding a donation drive for affected families, here is an aerial view of the damage. |
| Here’s an extended clip of the ‘not my prime minister’ exchange | Here’s an extended clip of the ‘not my prime minister’ exchange |
| And it does seem that Jacqui was simply correcting Scott Morrison as to her citizenship. | And it does seem that Jacqui was simply correcting Scott Morrison as to her citizenship. |
| If you’re going camping between Christmas and New Year, Forest Fire Management Victoria, which handles all bushfires on public land, has provided a guide to safe camp fire management. | If you’re going camping between Christmas and New Year, Forest Fire Management Victoria, which handles all bushfires on public land, has provided a guide to safe camp fire management. |
| Remember: if there is a total fire ban you cannot light a campfire. | Remember: if there is a total fire ban you cannot light a campfire. |
| Dr Geoff Goldrick, a scientist, educator and volunteer firefighter, has written a critique of Scott Morrison’s “marketing strategy of a boldfaced lie” on Australia’s emissions reduction efforts. | Dr Geoff Goldrick, a scientist, educator and volunteer firefighter, has written a critique of Scott Morrison’s “marketing strategy of a boldfaced lie” on Australia’s emissions reduction efforts. |
| He writes: | He writes: |
| Federal energy minister Angus Taylor will attend the reopening of the Tahmoor coalmine with Sanjeev Gupta today, the Illawara Mercury reports. | Federal energy minister Angus Taylor will attend the reopening of the Tahmoor coalmine with Sanjeev Gupta today, the Illawara Mercury reports. |
| Simec Coal Tahmoor, bought by Gupta’s GFC Alliance in 2018, was evacuated on Thursday as the Green Wattle Creek fire approached Bargo. Like much of the area affected by the Green Wattle Creek fire, it’s in Taylor’s electorate of Hume. | Simec Coal Tahmoor, bought by Gupta’s GFC Alliance in 2018, was evacuated on Thursday as the Green Wattle Creek fire approached Bargo. Like much of the area affected by the Green Wattle Creek fire, it’s in Taylor’s electorate of Hume. |
| The Mercury reported that Gupta would donate $250,000 to the local community at the reopening today. | The Mercury reported that Gupta would donate $250,000 to the local community at the reopening today. |
| But environmental groups have criticised Taylor for attending the reopening of a coalmine while his electorate was battling unprecedented bushfires. | But environmental groups have criticised Taylor for attending the reopening of a coalmine while his electorate was battling unprecedented bushfires. |
| Here’s Andrew Bray, national director of the Australian Wind Alliance: | Here’s Andrew Bray, national director of the Australian Wind Alliance: |
| Bray said Taylor had not attended the opening of any of the three windfarms that began operation in his electorate since he became an MP. There are six windfarms in Hume employing 62 people, Bray said, and windfarm construction will create 420 jobs over the next two years. Simec Coal Tahmoor employs 400 people. | Bray said Taylor had not attended the opening of any of the three windfarms that began operation in his electorate since he became an MP. There are six windfarms in Hume employing 62 people, Bray said, and windfarm construction will create 420 jobs over the next two years. Simec Coal Tahmoor employs 400 people. |
| Jamie Hanson, the head of campaigns for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said Taylor was “misreading” the public mood. | Jamie Hanson, the head of campaigns for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said Taylor was “misreading” the public mood. |
| He continued: | He continued: |
| Unlike the Hazelwood coalmine which caught alight in bushfires in Victoria in 2014, Tahmoor is an underground mine. That doesn’t mean it was not at risk of catching fire, but the risk is not the same. | Unlike the Hazelwood coalmine which caught alight in bushfires in Victoria in 2014, Tahmoor is an underground mine. That doesn’t mean it was not at risk of catching fire, but the risk is not the same. |
| I hope Dean and his small furry friend are doing well. | I hope Dean and his small furry friend are doing well. |
| The top five Australian Twitter trends are critical of Scott Morrison. | The top five Australian Twitter trends are critical of Scott Morrison. |
| Even Morrison’s former colleagues are joining in. | Even Morrison’s former colleagues are joining in. |
| Scott Morrison has responded to Jacqui, the woman from the RFS operations centre in Mudgee yesterday, who responded to being introduced to the PM yesterday by saying, “He’s not my prime minister.” | Scott Morrison has responded to Jacqui, the woman from the RFS operations centre in Mudgee yesterday, who responded to being introduced to the PM yesterday by saying, “He’s not my prime minister.” |
| Apparently, this is simply an issue of citizenship – Jacqui is British, the prime minister said on Twitter today. Move along folks, nothing to see here. | Apparently, this is simply an issue of citizenship – Jacqui is British, the prime minister said on Twitter today. Move along folks, nothing to see here. |
| Not sure Morrison’s clarification will help. Jacqui and #NotMyPrimeMinister are the top two trending topics on Twitter in Australia this morning. | Not sure Morrison’s clarification will help. Jacqui and #NotMyPrimeMinister are the top two trending topics on Twitter in Australia this morning. |
| Our photo editor Jessica Hromas was near Bilpin in areas affected by the Gospers Mountain megafire on Saturday. | Our photo editor Jessica Hromas was near Bilpin in areas affected by the Gospers Mountain megafire on Saturday. |