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| Australia fires and weather: blazes out of control as heatwave expected to peak on New Year's Eve | Australia fires and weather: blazes out of control as heatwave expected to peak on New Year's Eve |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Bureau of Meteorology issues wind warnings amid bushfires as temperatures expected to reach 44C north-west of Sydney next week | Bureau of Meteorology issues wind warnings amid bushfires as temperatures expected to reach 44C north-west of Sydney next week |
| New South Wales firefighters are gearing up for hotter, drier and windier conditions next week, after a Christmas reprieve. | New South Wales firefighters are gearing up for hotter, drier and windier conditions next week, after a Christmas reprieve. |
| On Saturday morning there were more than 70 fires burning across the state, with eight out of control and about 23 being controlled, as the unprecedented bushfire crisis continued. | On Saturday morning there were more than 70 fires burning across the state, with eight out of control and about 23 being controlled, as the unprecedented bushfire crisis continued. |
| However, none were above advice level after more than 1,500 firefighters in the field took advantage of milder conditions over the Christmas week to strengthen containment lines and prepare for a forthcoming heatwave and high fire danger. | However, none were above advice level after more than 1,500 firefighters in the field took advantage of milder conditions over the Christmas week to strengthen containment lines and prepare for a forthcoming heatwave and high fire danger. |
| The Currowan fire on the south coast and the Green Wattle Creek fire in the southern highlands are among those still out of control, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), but the Gospers Mountain “megafire” and the nearby Grose Valley fire, to the north-west and west of Sydney, are listed as being controlled. | The Currowan fire on the south coast and the Green Wattle Creek fire in the southern highlands are among those still out of control, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), but the Gospers Mountain “megafire” and the nearby Grose Valley fire, to the north-west and west of Sydney, are listed as being controlled. |
| The Blue Mountains city council mayor, Mark Greenhill, said this year’s extended bushfire season meant locals were living with immense stress. | The Blue Mountains city council mayor, Mark Greenhill, said this year’s extended bushfire season meant locals were living with immense stress. |
| The area continues to be affected by the Ruined Castle and Grose Valley fires, which spread from the Gospers Mountain mega-blaze to the north. | The area continues to be affected by the Ruined Castle and Grose Valley fires, which spread from the Gospers Mountain mega-blaze to the north. |
| The Green Wattle Creek fire to the south may also pose a threat in the future, Greenhill said, adding the community was “far from out of the woods”. | The Green Wattle Creek fire to the south may also pose a threat in the future, Greenhill said, adding the community was “far from out of the woods”. |
| “For the whole community this is a very stressful, long endurance episode for them; it just goes on and on,” he said on Friday. | “For the whole community this is a very stressful, long endurance episode for them; it just goes on and on,” he said on Friday. |
| The NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, meanwhile, has gone on a family holiday overseas but says he will continue to receive twice-daily RFS updates. | The NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, meanwhile, has gone on a family holiday overseas but says he will continue to receive twice-daily RFS updates. |
| “If the bushfire situation should demand it, I will return home without hesitation,” Elliott said. | “If the bushfire situation should demand it, I will return home without hesitation,” Elliott said. |
| The prime minister, Scott Morrison, faced widespread criticism after going on a family holiday to Hawaii in the midst of the bushfire crisis without publicly announcing it, and with his office reportedly telling journalists he was not in Hawaii. | The prime minister, Scott Morrison, faced widespread criticism after going on a family holiday to Hawaii in the midst of the bushfire crisis without publicly announcing it, and with his office reportedly telling journalists he was not in Hawaii. |
| Morrison returned early last week, apologising for going away. He continued to face criticism for his government’s failure to develop a credible climate change policy. | Morrison returned early last week, apologising for going away. He continued to face criticism for his government’s failure to develop a credible climate change policy. |
| At least nine people, including two firefighters, have been killed in fires this season – eight of them in NSW. | At least nine people, including two firefighters, have been killed in fires this season – eight of them in NSW. |
| Almost 1,000 homes are estimated to have been destroyed in the NSW bushfire crisis, according to the most recent impact assessment from the RFS, published on Christmas Eve. | Almost 1,000 homes are estimated to have been destroyed in the NSW bushfire crisis, according to the most recent impact assessment from the RFS, published on Christmas Eve. |
| Another 68 facilities and 2,048 “outbuildings” were also confirmed destroyed. | Another 68 facilities and 2,048 “outbuildings” were also confirmed destroyed. |
| More than 7,800 homes have been saved by firefighters. | More than 7,800 homes have been saved by firefighters. |
| Canberra has added the Wingecarribee local government area, which covers NSW’s southern highlands, to the areas eligible for Australian government disaster recovery payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child, as well as recovery allowances for people who lost income because of the fires. | Canberra has added the Wingecarribee local government area, which covers NSW’s southern highlands, to the areas eligible for Australian government disaster recovery payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child, as well as recovery allowances for people who lost income because of the fires. |
| Grants of up to $10,000 are also being made available to people who have had their uninsured homes damaged or destroyed by the recent South Australian bushfires, and who need to replace or repair their homes or replace essential household items. | Grants of up to $10,000 are also being made available to people who have had their uninsured homes damaged or destroyed by the recent South Australian bushfires, and who need to replace or repair their homes or replace essential household items. |
| At least three fires remain burning in South Australia at advice level, including two on Kangaroo Island, at Bunbury, and at Cudlee Creek where there have been flare-ups in recent days. | |
| Total fire bans were in place for the southern ranges, southern slopes and Monaro alpine areas in NSW, and the ACT, where hot and windy conditions were bringing elevated fire danger. | Total fire bans were in place for the southern ranges, southern slopes and Monaro alpine areas in NSW, and the ACT, where hot and windy conditions were bringing elevated fire danger. |
| The RFS urged people to prepare their homes, including raking leaves, moving firewood stocks away from the house, and patching up gaps in tiles and other places where embers could catch. | The RFS urged people to prepare their homes, including raking leaves, moving firewood stocks away from the house, and patching up gaps in tiles and other places where embers could catch. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology issued a strong wind warning for the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast, Sydney coast, Illawarra coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast on Saturday, and the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast and Sydney coast on Sunday. | The Bureau of Meteorology issued a strong wind warning for the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast, Sydney coast, Illawarra coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast on Saturday, and the Macquarie coast, Hunter coast and Sydney coast on Sunday. |
| Temperatures were forecast to be above or well above average across the state for the rest of the year. | Temperatures were forecast to be above or well above average across the state for the rest of the year. |
| “A near-stationary high pressure system over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge towards the northern New South Wales coast, while a trough of low pressure extends across south-western parts of the state,” the bureau said on Saturday. | “A near-stationary high pressure system over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge towards the northern New South Wales coast, while a trough of low pressure extends across south-western parts of the state,” the bureau said on Saturday. |
| “This pattern will allow increasingly hot air to be drawn down from central Australia during the next few days, with heatwave conditions returning in many areas.” | “This pattern will allow increasingly hot air to be drawn down from central Australia during the next few days, with heatwave conditions returning in many areas.” |
| Saturday was expected to see highs of around 29C in Sydney but nearing 40 in the western and north-western suburbs. High 30s to low 40s were predicted for multiple regions of NSW, with the coolest temperatures in the northern rivers region where most places would hover around the high 20s. | Saturday was expected to see highs of around 29C in Sydney but nearing 40 in the western and north-western suburbs. High 30s to low 40s were predicted for multiple regions of NSW, with the coolest temperatures in the northern rivers region where most places would hover around the high 20s. |
| Temperatures will peak on New Year’s Eve, with 44C in Richmond, 35C in Sydney and 33C in Wollongong before a possible late storm. | Temperatures will peak on New Year’s Eve, with 44C in Richmond, 35C in Sydney and 33C in Wollongong before a possible late storm. |
| In South Australia, Adelaide was in the grips of its second heatwave in as many weeks with forecasters tipping more to come this summer. | In South Australia, Adelaide was in the grips of its second heatwave in as many weeks with forecasters tipping more to come this summer. |
| After four days with temperatures above 40C last week, the city was expected to have the second of four similar days on Saturday. | After four days with temperatures above 40C last week, the city was expected to have the second of four similar days on Saturday. |