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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/30/australia-victoria-bushfires-evacuated-east-gippsland-fires-news-live-latest-updates
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| Victoria fires live: nine 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 updates | Vic Emergency has ordered the mass evacuation of a vast area, with catastrophic conditions also forecast for South Australia. Follow latest news and live updates |
| Another press conference in Victoria. | |
| “You should not be on the roads” in East Gippsland, authorities say. | |
| “We have the W Tree fire running towards the coast and we believe it could impact on the Princes Highway between 5pm and 7pm this evening. | |
| “We have been telling people for more than 24 hours East Gippsland is at significant risk in relation to fire. Earlier today, we changed our messaging to say that you should not be on the roads. | |
| “You need to follow, very, very closely, the instructions in those warnings. With those emergency warnings, a lot will say “Shelter in place” but, at times, they will give you options of how you might be able to get out of that particular area.” | |
| Another emergency warning has been issued for Burrowye, Cudgewa, Cudgewa North, Guys Forest, Mount Alfred, Pine Mountain, Tintaldra, Walwa. | |
| This fire is further away from the other eight fires in East Gippsland. | |
| The fire is 13km west-north-west of Walwa, travelling in a south-easterly direction towards Walwa. | |
| This bushfire could impact Walwa and surrounding towns any time in the next one hour. | |
| Murray River will be closed between Walwa and Burrowye. | |
| “Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the CFA says. “Emergency Services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.” | |
| And an update on the emergency warning for Goongerah, Martins Creek, Nurran, Sardine Creek and Errinundra. | |
| The fire is now impacting private property, according to the CFA. | |
| Meanwhile in NSW. | |
| Another emergency fire in Victoria – taking the count to eight right now. | |
| The new warning is for Bruthen, Bullumwaal, Clifton Creek, Deptford, Fairhope, Fairy Dell, Granite Rock, Mossiface, Mount Taylor, Sarsfield, Waterholes. | |
| “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.” | |
| At the same time, in NSW, an emergency warning has been issued for Dunns Road. | |
| From Tasmania: | |
| “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 lightning ignitions will give us a lot of problems going forward.” | |
| New fires should be reported via 000. | |
| Tasmanian fire authorities are also speaking now. | Tasmanian fire authorities are also speaking now. |
| In Strathgordon, an emergency alert has been issued for travellers and tourists, but not for residents. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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 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. | 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”. | “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 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. | 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. |