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| Australia fires: NSW firefighter dies as emergency warnings in place for Tasmania, Victoria bushfires – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Firey killed and three others taken to hospital after two vehicles roll over in extreme winds. This blog has now closed | |
| We will be closing this blog now. You can read a wrap of today’s events here until we restart our coverage. | We will be closing this blog now. You can read a wrap of today’s events here until we restart our coverage. |
| A firefighter has been killed and three taken to hospital when extreme winds associated with a bushfire near Jingellic rolled two vehicles. That fire is currently burning across the border of NSW and Victoria. | A firefighter has been killed and three taken to hospital when extreme winds associated with a bushfire near Jingellic rolled two vehicles. That fire is currently burning across the border of NSW and Victoria. |
| Multiple properties are feared lost but there have been no confirmations. | Multiple properties are feared lost but there have been no confirmations. |
| Fires are creating their own storms, generating lightning in some firegrounds. | Fires are creating their own storms, generating lightning in some firegrounds. |
| Currently there are 14 emergency warnings for fires in Victoria, largely concentrated in the East Gippsland area. About 40,000 people were urged to leave the area ahead of extreme fire danger today, but many remained. | Currently there are 14 emergency warnings for fires in Victoria, largely concentrated in the East Gippsland area. About 40,000 people were urged to leave the area ahead of extreme fire danger today, but many remained. |
| Homes and lives are under threat and in many places people have been told it is too late to leave and they need to take shelter. | Homes and lives are under threat and in many places people have been told it is too late to leave and they need to take shelter. |
| Roads in and out of Lakes Entrance are closed, and the Princes Highway was also closed. | Roads in and out of Lakes Entrance are closed, and the Princes Highway was also closed. |
| An emergency-level fire broke out in the suburban Melbourne area of Bundoora, threatening homes. | |
| In NSW there are four emergency-level fires (including that one near Jingellic). | |
| Tasmanian fire authorities have issued four emergency warnings stemming from two fires – one near Pelham in the south and another near Fingal in the north-east. | |
| All six states as well as the Northern Territory reached temperatures exceeding 40C today, with Hobart recording its hottest December day. | All six states as well as the Northern Territory reached temperatures exceeding 40C today, with Hobart recording its hottest December day. |
| The NSW fire service has given the green light the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks display, after widespread debate about whether it should go ahead. | |
| Canberra and Parramatta are among the cities and councils across NSW and the ACT to cancel their fireworks displays because of the high fire danger. | Canberra and Parramatta are among the cities and councils across NSW and the ACT to cancel their fireworks displays because of the high fire danger. |
| The Falls Festival in Lorne has been cancelled because of the fire risk, and a number of artists are hastily organising individual concerts, with proceeds going to firefighters and those affected. | The Falls Festival in Lorne has been cancelled because of the fire risk, and a number of artists are hastily organising individual concerts, with proceeds going to firefighters and those affected. |
| A south-westerly change is expected around midnight in the East Gippsland region and will likely drive fires in a north-easterly direction. | A south-westerly change is expected around midnight in the East Gippsland region and will likely drive fires in a north-easterly direction. |
| Fires are threatening homes and lives and in many places it is too late to leave. Check with the CFA website and local emergency information providers for more details. | Fires are threatening homes and lives and in many places it is too late to leave. Check with the CFA website and local emergency information providers for more details. |
| Firefighters are “undertaking asset protection in private property” at Bruthen and Ramrod Creek, the CFA says. | Firefighters are “undertaking asset protection in private property” at Bruthen and Ramrod Creek, the CFA says. |
| The Marthavale-Barmouth Spur fire there is out of control and subject to an emergency warning. It has created a large column and is dropping embers and creating spot fires. It’s currently north of Bruthen. | The Marthavale-Barmouth Spur fire there is out of control and subject to an emergency warning. It has created a large column and is dropping embers and creating spot fires. It’s currently north of Bruthen. |
| Aircraft are tasked to assess a fire situation near Suggan Buggan but haven’t been able to do so recently, the CFA says. | Aircraft are tasked to assess a fire situation near Suggan Buggan but haven’t been able to do so recently, the CFA says. |
| The NSW RFS has released a little more information about the incident near Jingellic in the state’s south, where a firefighter died this evening. | The NSW RFS has released a little more information about the incident near Jingellic in the state’s south, where a firefighter died this evening. |
| The two firefighters who were injured, suffering burns, have been taken to hospital. A second vehicle working in the area was also blown over by the extreme winds associated with the fire and the firefighter on board has also been taken to hospital. | The two firefighters who were injured, suffering burns, have been taken to hospital. A second vehicle working in the area was also blown over by the extreme winds associated with the fire and the firefighter on board has also been taken to hospital. |
| “The service’s thoughts are with all the firefighters’ families, friends, and fellow brigade members,” the RFS said. | “The service’s thoughts are with all the firefighters’ families, friends, and fellow brigade members,” the RFS said. |
| There are 14 emergency warnings in the state of Victoria due to these awful bushfires. | There are 14 emergency warnings in the state of Victoria due to these awful bushfires. |
| The most recent warning from the CFA is for those in and around Mallacoota where it is too late to leave and people must take shelter indoors immediately to survive. | The most recent warning from the CFA is for those in and around Mallacoota where it is too late to leave and people must take shelter indoors immediately to survive. |
| “Leaving now would be deadly,” the CFA said. | “Leaving now would be deadly,” the CFA said. |
| The Genoa-Mallacoota Road is closed, so there is no way in or out. | The Genoa-Mallacoota Road is closed, so there is no way in or out. |
| The bushfire is travelling from Wingan River towards Mallacoota, and there is potential for lightning associated with fire smoke. | The bushfire is travelling from Wingan River towards Mallacoota, and there is potential for lightning associated with fire smoke. |
| A south-westerly wind change is expected to reach Mallacoota by 4am, with winds gusting at 40-60km/h. | A south-westerly wind change is expected to reach Mallacoota by 4am, with winds gusting at 40-60km/h. |
| This warning was issued for Genoa, Gipsy Point, Karbethong, Lake View, Mallacoota, Maramingo Creek, Wallagaraugh, Wangarabell, Wingan River and Wroxham. | This warning was issued for Genoa, Gipsy Point, Karbethong, Lake View, Mallacoota, Maramingo Creek, Wallagaraugh, Wangarabell, Wingan River and Wroxham. |
| (Note, with the photo below, Rachel Hocking has corrected to say it was taken at Tamboon, about 20km from Lakes Entrance.) | (Note, with the photo below, Rachel Hocking has corrected to say it was taken at Tamboon, about 20km from Lakes Entrance.) |
| The Tasmanian Fire Service says there are unconfirmed reports of houses having been lost at Mangana, near Fingal, in the state’s north-east. | The Tasmanian Fire Service says there are unconfirmed reports of houses having been lost at Mangana, near Fingal, in the state’s north-east. |
| Peter Middleton, from the fire service, told local ABC the fire danger in affected parts of the state was in the very high-to-severe range and would continue into the night. | Peter Middleton, from the fire service, told local ABC the fire danger in affected parts of the state was in the very high-to-severe range and would continue into the night. |
| As previously reported, Fingal, Mangana and Tower Hill are considered at severe risk over the next 90 minutes. An evacuation centre at Fingal has been moved east to St Marys hall. | As previously reported, Fingal, Mangana and Tower Hill are considered at severe risk over the next 90 minutes. An evacuation centre at Fingal has been moved east to St Marys hall. |
| Middleton said: “We’ve heard there are possible house losses… but certainly don’t have anything confirmed to say how many.” | Middleton said: “We’ve heard there are possible house losses… but certainly don’t have anything confirmed to say how many.” |
| The state’s other significant fire, near Pelham, is heading towards Elderslie and Broadmarsh, fanned by a strong westerly. “There is serious concern for those areas because of the winds we’re getting at the moment,” Middleton said. | The state’s other significant fire, near Pelham, is heading towards Elderslie and Broadmarsh, fanned by a strong westerly. “There is serious concern for those areas because of the winds we’re getting at the moment,” Middleton said. |
| The evacuation centre for the Pelham fire is at Brighton Civic Centre. | The evacuation centre for the Pelham fire is at Brighton Civic Centre. |
| A NSW firefighter has died and two others have suffered burns while battling the fire at Jingellic, east of Albury. | A NSW firefighter has died and two others have suffered burns while battling the fire at Jingellic, east of Albury. |
| The RFS said it’s believed their truck was hit by extreme winds and rolled. | The RFS said it’s believed their truck was hit by extreme winds and rolled. |
| This is a fire that has crossed the state border into Victoria, and is threatening Walwa, Guys Forest, Mount Alfred, Cudgewa, Burrowye, where residents have been told they should evacuate immediately. | This is a fire that has crossed the state border into Victoria, and is threatening Walwa, Guys Forest, Mount Alfred, Cudgewa, Burrowye, where residents have been told they should evacuate immediately. |
| There are four emergency warnings in Tasmania, stemming from two fires. | There are four emergency warnings in Tasmania, stemming from two fires. |
| A bushfire will put Fingal as well as Mangana and Tower Hill at severe risk within the next 90 minutes, and will be difficult to control. | A bushfire will put Fingal as well as Mangana and Tower Hill at severe risk within the next 90 minutes, and will be difficult to control. |
| And that Pelham fire in the south has also sparked two warnings. One for Elderslie and Broadmarsh, which are expected to come under high risk now and into the evening. | And that Pelham fire in the south has also sparked two warnings. One for Elderslie and Broadmarsh, which are expected to come under high risk now and into the evening. |
| The second warning is for Pelham and surrounding areas. The TFS says this fire will put lives in danger and may destroy homes in Pelham as well as surrounding areas. It is fast moving and burning in a south-easterly direction towards Horners Road Bluff Road, Elderslie and Broadmarsh. | The second warning is for Pelham and surrounding areas. The TFS says this fire will put lives in danger and may destroy homes in Pelham as well as surrounding areas. It is fast moving and burning in a south-easterly direction towards Horners Road Bluff Road, Elderslie and Broadmarsh. |
| “The fire is creating dangerous spot fires ahead of the main fire front.” | “The fire is creating dangerous spot fires ahead of the main fire front.” |
| There is a new emergency warning for a fire in NSW, in the Bega Valley to the north of Bemboka. People in the area from Yankees Gap to Bemboka are advised to leave now towards Bega if that is their fire plan or if they are not prepared. People in Numbugga should watch out for embers and spot fires, and monitor conditions. | There is a new emergency warning for a fire in NSW, in the Bega Valley to the north of Bemboka. People in the area from Yankees Gap to Bemboka are advised to leave now towards Bega if that is their fire plan or if they are not prepared. People in Numbugga should watch out for embers and spot fires, and monitor conditions. |
| According to Live Traffic, the Snowy Mountains Highway is closed in both directions from Steeple Flat to Bega, between Monaro Highway and Princes Highway. | According to Live Traffic, the Snowy Mountains Highway is closed in both directions from Steeple Flat to Bega, between Monaro Highway and Princes Highway. |
| The NSW RFS has published a series of pretty worrying maps ahead of conditions worsening tomorrow. | The NSW RFS has published a series of pretty worrying maps ahead of conditions worsening tomorrow. |