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Victoria fires live: seven emergency warnings in place for East Gippsland bushfires – latest Victoria fires live: seven emergency warnings in place for East Gippsland bushfires – latest
(32 minutes later)
Vic Emergency has ordered the mass evacuation of a vast area, with catastrophic conditions also forecast for South Australia. Follow latest news and live updatesVic Emergency has ordered the mass evacuation of a vast area, with catastrophic conditions also forecast for South Australia. Follow latest news and live updates
“There is another lightning storm forecast to come across today. It has a very serious, very serious risk of starting fires. We are concerned that the lighting ignitions will give us a lot of problems going forward.”
New starting fires should be reported via 000.
Tasmanian fire authorities are also speaking now.
In Strathgordon, an emergency alert has been issued for travellers and tourists, but not for residents.
The fire remains at watch and act for residents. The two should not be confused, the TFS says.
During that press conference, an emergency warning was also issued in South Australia for an area near the Playford Highway on Kangaroo Island. But that was downgraded to watch and act a few minutes ago.
It will take “weeks or months” for the fires to be put out, the CFA says.
“At this stage, substantial rain is what is required to bring these to a halt.” That is not forecast in the near future.
“I think anyone now in Gippsland, who are seeing the columns out there and seeing the fires starting would know that it is a very risky day, and I’m hoping that they will take the advice that has been given in the messages that are coming out from this service.”
The CFA says they have 14 aircraft operating on the Lakes Entrance fire at this stage.
The CFA say that conditions will worsen in the next few hours.
“Over the next few hours we will see more of the spot fires developing and more of them are running down towards the south-east with the north-westerly wind behind them. We will see further runs of fire, quite some distances as we go into the afternoon”.
The forecast south-westerly wind will give them “control issues”. But after that, they are hopeful that they will “see a bit of a settling in the fire weather”.
The CFA is giving a press conference now in Bairnsdale.
They say that towns in most danger are: Bruthen, Buchan and Buchan South, Goongerah (which has already been evacuated) and “the coastal strip across to Mallacoota”.
They say they are unaware of any impact on private land – so far only public land has been affected.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast for South Australia and Tasmania – both have a risk of starting new fires.
In Victoria, the southerly is on its way.
An update on the Wingan River, Furnell, Tamboon South fire, which is at emergency level.An update on the Wingan River, Furnell, Tamboon South fire, which is at emergency level.
The CFA advises that the Princes Highway is now closed from Bruthen through to the Genoa intersection. And the road north of Genoa to Eden remains open but may close at any time.The CFA advises that the Princes Highway is now closed from Bruthen through to the Genoa intersection. And the road north of Genoa to Eden remains open but may close at any time.
The fire is currently approximately 20km east of Cann River.The fire is currently approximately 20km east of Cann River.
All roads into the warning area are closed including the West Wingan Road.All roads into the warning area are closed including the West Wingan Road.
Hobart has just registered its highest temperature in December on record. It hit 40.8C in the city at 1.47pm, before dropping to 39.8C.Hobart has just registered its highest temperature in December on record. It hit 40.8C in the city at 1.47pm, before dropping to 39.8C.
Marilyn Withers is sitting in her car with the air conditioner running in an attempt to cool down her dogs, Majic and Puku. The 77-year-old lives at Nicholson, about 20km east of Bairnsdale, but was told to leave the eight-acre property this morning by her son. He is planning to stay and defend.Marilyn Withers is sitting in her car with the air conditioner running in an attempt to cool down her dogs, Majic and Puku. The 77-year-old lives at Nicholson, about 20km east of Bairnsdale, but was told to leave the eight-acre property this morning by her son. He is planning to stay and defend.
Withers is emotional at the thought of losing her house, where she lived for six years while caring for her husband. He died earlier this year and her son, Mitch, 57, has been staying with her since.Withers is emotional at the thought of losing her house, where she lived for six years while caring for her husband. He died earlier this year and her son, Mitch, 57, has been staying with her since.
“It is really tough, I didn’t want to leave the house,” Withers said. “I didn’t know really where to go. Really nobody is telling you where to go.”“It is really tough, I didn’t want to leave the house,” Withers said. “I didn’t know really where to go. Really nobody is telling you where to go.”
She has packed her car with blankets, a few changes of clothes, and all her photo albums. A sun tent is set up next to the car, but it is being flattened by the wind. The towering plume of smoke from the Bruthen fire can be seen in the distance.She has packed her car with blankets, a few changes of clothes, and all her photo albums. A sun tent is set up next to the car, but it is being flattened by the wind. The towering plume of smoke from the Bruthen fire can be seen in the distance.
Withers says she plans to go home tonight — provided the road is open. In the meantime she is wetting towels in the river in an attempt to keep her dogs cool. Withers says she plans to go home tonight – provided the road is open. In the meantime she is wetting towels in the river in an attempt to keep her dogs cool.
We have also updated our interactive map tracking the total amount of land burned this fire season. The new total is 4.6m hectares, across NSW, Queensland, Victoria and SA. We have also updated our interactive map tracking the total amount of land burned this fire season. The new total is 4.6m hectares, across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
An emergency warning has just been issued for Buchan, Buchan South and Sunny Point.
That makes it seven emergency level fires burning at the same time in East Gippsland.
The CFA advises that spot fires might be started by embers.
“There is a bushfire to your west that is not yet under control. Fire activity has now increased and produced a significant smoke column.
“A severe thunder storm warning has been issued for East Gippsland for damaging and locally destructive winds.
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.”
If you’re mourning the lost fireworks, rapper Baker Boy has announced he is throwing a charity party today in Melbourne, after the heat and fire risk cancelled the Falls Festival in Lorne.
All profits go to the CFA.
Irene McCarthy and Hugh Hunter decided to pack their caravan and leave their home at Metung, on the East Gippsland coast, on Monday morning. They had been watching the fire building at Bruthen for the past few days and woke to the news of five more fires started in their area due to lightning strikes.
“Our community safer place is the Metung yacht and golf club,” McCarthy said. “We were told at the community meeting this morning that it would not be defended. And that was it for us… it was that which decided us on coming down here.”
They made the half-hour drive to Bairnsdale with their daughter and son-in-law, who are visiting from Melbourne, and pulled up at Howitt Park, on the Mitchell River, reckoning that it would be nicer than camping at the treeless football oval. A number of neighbours from Metung are there – it’s a heavily wooded place.
It is “very hot and very unpleasant”, McCarthy said. She is sitting in the shade to escape the heat, but it’s not working – she has to put her head between her knees. She and Hunter moved from the UK 12 years ago.
“Most of the time we absolutely love it,” Hunter said. “Last night was not one of those ‘love it’ nights.”
They have considered the possibility that they might lose the house.
“At the end of the day it’s just a house,” McCarthy said. “What will be will be.”
More road closures.
Every state has now hit 40C temperatures. And that includes Tasmania, with an astonishing maximum of 40.2C.
Fires are also burning in Tasmania, and storms have been forecast that could start even more with lightning strikes.
This is Naaman Zhou taking over the blog from Helen Davidson.
Sky News is reporting that all fireworks displays in East Gippsland have been cancelled for tomorrow night’s New Year’s Eve.
The CFA has just declared more emergency level fires in the East Gippsland area.
These are the latest updates from the CFA in the last 10 minutes, adding to previous updates about emergency fires near Goongerah, Butchers Ridge, Reedy Flat and Suggan Buggan.
Wingan RiverThis fire has increased rapidly in size, and is out of control. It is approximately 20km east of Cann River with easterly winds putting pressure on the western side of the fire.The warning applies to Furnell, Tamboon South and Wingan River.
Ramrod CreekA bushfire north of Bruthen is out of control. It’s travelling south from Boys Camp Road towards Ramrod Creek, and could impact within the next hour. Leaving now is the safest option.
Edit: This post has been edited to remove a reference to evacuation orders for Goongerah and Martins Creek. The current CFA warnings say it is too late to leave and the safest option is to take shelter indoors.
The Princes Highway is also now closed between Cann River and the Genoa intersection. Do not head north from Cann River on the Princes Highway if you are travelling.
This is Helen Davidson taking over the blog from Luke Henriques-Gomes.
An emergency warning has been issued for Goongerah, Martins Creek, Sardine Creek, Errinundra and Nurran, where it is too late to leave and the safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately.
This is an upgrade in severity from the watch and act warning issued this morning.
The CFA says the bushfire, which is west of Goongerah and south-west of Bonang, remains out of control and fire activity is increasing. There are two significant columns building in the south-eastern corner of the fire, heading towards Goongerah and Martins Creek.
The fire is threatening homes and lives.