This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/31/australia-fires-live-news-nsw-victoria-bushfires-latest-updates

The article has changed 29 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 15 Version 16
Australia fires live: Mallacoota fire in Victoria turns sky black as NSW faces bushfires threat - latest updates Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face bushfires threat – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Conditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updatesConditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updates
It has been pointed out that the NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott announced on Friday he would be going on holiday to Europe.
He promised he would receive two briefings a day, and would return should the bushfire situation “demand it”. At a press conference on Tuesday, the NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian deflected questions about the minister’s whereabouts. “At the end of the day, the buck stops with me,” she said. “I’m the premier.”Berejiklian noted the acting minister, the prisons minister Anthony Roberts, was with her. “I feel completely supported,” she said.
Elliott announced his holiday shortly after the prime minister, Scott Morrison, apologised for flying out to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Morrison subsequently returned home early. The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, returned from holiday yesterday as fires burned out of control in the state’s east.
Two people were confirmed dead at Cobargo – believed to be father and son – and grave fears are held for a third west of Narooma.
On Tuesday, Berejilkian would not be drawn on Elliott’s role. “I ask everybody to focus on what’s important – protecting life and property.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Elliott’s office.
CFA chief officer Steve Warrington has some “relatively good news” for Mallacoota.
“The wind change has gone through and the major fire front has now bypassed that town,” he says.
“I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced. So that is good news for us.
“But having said that, there are still active fires in that area and they’re still actively extinguishing houses that have burnt down on the outskirts of Mallacoota.”
He also adds that the town now remains isolated, which is a concern.
It’s a similar state in Corryong – the main fire front has passed but the town is still isolated and ringed by fire.
Victoria’s emergency commissioner, Andrew Crisp, is speaking now.
He confirms that there are at least 43 buildings destroyed in East Gippsland. That’s 19 structures at Sarsfield, and 24 structures at Buchan.
That counting was done by helicopter, and there will be more confirmed destroyed properties to come.
“Because this has been done by the air, it’s difficult at times to determine whether it’s actually a house or a large shed or an outbuilding,” Crisp says.
“We still have a dynamic and dangerous fire condition. We still have 8 emergency warnings in the state.
“To demonstrate how dynamic it still is, there’s been a band of lightning come through the state in recent times. And we’ve got about 12-15 new fires that have started in the Jamieson/Halcourt area”.
Berejiklian says she supports Sydney’s fireworks going ahead tonight.
She acknowledges the “mixed feelings” on the issue, but says “on balance I understand the decision to proceed, and on balance I support that decision”.
“I think no matter where you are, up and down the coast, inland or in the larger cities, including Sydney, all our thoughts are with the people who are suffering.”
The fireworks “don’t take away from our empathy for people who are doing it tough”.
On those earlier reports by Sky News that NSW transport minister Andrew Constance was missing, Berejiklian says it was a communication issue.
The ABC later contacted Constance by phone and confirmed he was OK.
“Unfortunately, for many people in southern New South Wales, telecommunications is an issue at the moment there,” Berejiklian said. “There are a number of phone towers damaged. There are a number of people who don’t have phone reception.
“Because of the damage to phone towers and also lack of reception in some of the remote communities, it is difficult to contact everybody at this time.”
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also spoke and said there will be a “heavy toll” in terms of property damage.
“We need to brace ourselves for a considerable number of properties, a considerable number of homes that are likely to have been damaged and or destroyed right across these eight emergency warning fire areas, given the extraordinary nature of the fire behaviour and fire spread today.”
Police found the two men deceased in a house in the west of Cobargo, says NSW police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys.
The two men were residents of the town, and were father and son.
They are still trying to access a house west of Narooma, where a man is missing.
“Unfortunately we think the news in that house will not be good either,” Worboys says. An elderly man was reported to police as living in that house.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is speaking now and has confirmed that two people have died in Cobargo.NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is speaking now and has confirmed that two people have died in Cobargo.
“It’s been confirmed today that there are two deceased persons in Cobargo,” she said. “The police have confirmed that. A third person is missing with grave concerns for their safety, west of Narooma. Our message is please follow instructions.”“It’s been confirmed today that there are two deceased persons in Cobargo,” she said. “The police have confirmed that. A third person is missing with grave concerns for their safety, west of Narooma. Our message is please follow instructions.”
Our photo editor, Jessica Hromas, has put together this composite showing the main street of Cobargo, before and after the fires.Our photo editor, Jessica Hromas, has put together this composite showing the main street of Cobargo, before and after the fires.
Earlier today, there were grave fears for the Mogo Zoo in NSW, only a few kilometres from the out-of-control fires that are currently destroying homes in Batemans Bay.Earlier today, there were grave fears for the Mogo Zoo in NSW, only a few kilometres from the out-of-control fires that are currently destroying homes in Batemans Bay.
None of the animals had time to be evacuated, and the zoo has Australia’s largest collection of primates, as well as lions, tigers and zebras.None of the animals had time to be evacuated, and the zoo has Australia’s largest collection of primates, as well as lions, tigers and zebras.
Just now zoo director Chad Staples has said all the animals are safe. Those that were small enough – monkeys and red pandas – were scooped up and taken inside.Just now zoo director Chad Staples has said all the animals are safe. Those that were small enough – monkeys and red pandas – were scooped up and taken inside.
“Right now in my house there’s animals of all description in all the different rooms,” Staples told the ABC. “Due to the amazing staff here, and a well executed plan, no one is hurt. Not a single animal lost.”“Right now in my house there’s animals of all description in all the different rooms,” Staples told the ABC. “Due to the amazing staff here, and a well executed plan, no one is hurt. Not a single animal lost.”
“What we did with the dangerous animals – lions, tigers, orangutans – is we encouraged them to the night den, kept them calm, like nothing was happening, and we were able to protect them at that site.“What we did with the dangerous animals – lions, tigers, orangutans – is we encouraged them to the night den, kept them calm, like nothing was happening, and we were able to protect them at that site.
“The only animals we saw any signs of stress are the giraffe and zebra at a couple of points.”“The only animals we saw any signs of stress are the giraffe and zebra at a couple of points.”
And the conditions are also easing.And the conditions are also easing.
“We were putting fires out on site, a couple of hours ago it felt like armageddon,” said Staples. “But right now we feel like we have got a reprieve, the wind changed and we were able to get on top of it.”“We were putting fires out on site, a couple of hours ago it felt like armageddon,” said Staples. “But right now we feel like we have got a reprieve, the wind changed and we were able to get on top of it.”
Former journalist Peter Logue and former diplomat Zena Armstrong were at home at Coolagolite outside Cobargo early this morning, “dithering about what to do” according to Logue.Former journalist Peter Logue and former diplomat Zena Armstrong were at home at Coolagolite outside Cobargo early this morning, “dithering about what to do” according to Logue.
“Then we got a phone call from a local farmer, a long term resident, at about 4.30am and he just said ‘Get out now’, so we left, and as we went outside the red glow was right behind the house, that was the fire that came over the back of us and swept through into Cobargo.”“Then we got a phone call from a local farmer, a long term resident, at about 4.30am and he just said ‘Get out now’, so we left, and as we went outside the red glow was right behind the house, that was the fire that came over the back of us and swept through into Cobargo.”
Their children and a guest found a way to drive through to Canberra. Logue and Armstrong drove to the coast to Bermagui to help defend the home of Armstrong’s mother and step father.Their children and a guest found a way to drive through to Canberra. Logue and Armstrong drove to the coast to Bermagui to help defend the home of Armstrong’s mother and step father.
“The RFS and the police were driving around the streets of Bermagui with a loud speaker saying ‘evacuate now, evacuate now’. It was dark like night time and raining burning embers and leaves.“The RFS and the police were driving around the streets of Bermagui with a loud speaker saying ‘evacuate now, evacuate now’. It was dark like night time and raining burning embers and leaves.
“We evacuated the oldies down to the beach, and then we went back to try to prepare the house...but then the weather changed, the fire started its own weather system, it went from hot wind to really cold, and it started raining..and in the end the fire front didn’t eventuate.”“We evacuated the oldies down to the beach, and then we went back to try to prepare the house...but then the weather changed, the fire started its own weather system, it went from hot wind to really cold, and it started raining..and in the end the fire front didn’t eventuate.”
Logue spoke to Guardian Australia from Bermagui beach where the RFS had just given a briefing at the surf life savers’ club.Logue spoke to Guardian Australia from Bermagui beach where the RFS had just given a briefing at the surf life savers’ club.
“The whole south coast water treatment system is down so we have to boil water, Woolworths is packed with people buying water and emergency supplies, the cafes are all closed because they’ve run out of food, and there’s only one way out to Narooma, but you can’t get any further than there.”“The whole south coast water treatment system is down so we have to boil water, Woolworths is packed with people buying water and emergency supplies, the cafes are all closed because they’ve run out of food, and there’s only one way out to Narooma, but you can’t get any further than there.”
Logue and Armstrong don’t know if there home is still standing. The fire has destroyed much of Cobargo and two residents are missing, in what could be “potential fatalities” according to RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.Logue and Armstrong don’t know if there home is still standing. The fire has destroyed much of Cobargo and two residents are missing, in what could be “potential fatalities” according to RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Both Logue and Armstrong are musicians, organisers of the Cobargo folk festival. They have saved their musical instruments, half a dozen bottles of Clonakilla and a bottle of good Irish whisky.Both Logue and Armstrong are musicians, organisers of the Cobargo folk festival. They have saved their musical instruments, half a dozen bottles of Clonakilla and a bottle of good Irish whisky.
“We are staying here for now,” Logue said. “It looks like a refugee camp down here at the beach, a yuppie refugee camp, with horse floats and people staying in their cars.”“We are staying here for now,” Logue said. “It looks like a refugee camp down here at the beach, a yuppie refugee camp, with horse floats and people staying in their cars.”
And quite shocking footage of a shopping centre filled with flames in Batemans Bay.And quite shocking footage of a shopping centre filled with flames in Batemans Bay.
Rapid escalation of the Currowan fire near Sussex Inlet in NSW. ABC reporter Selby Stewart said observers “had to flee” as a spot fire “became an inferno in minutes”.
Albanese has also criticised the City of Sydney’s fireworks scheduled tonight.
“I understand how important the fireworks are for their economy, but I just think at a time like this – I’m not in a position to judge – but I think that it’s really problematic that it’s going ahead. That’s a decision for others.”
When asked about Labor’s support for coal, he says “now is not the time to answer questions like that”.
Asked when the time is, Albanese says “I have been talking about climate change ... The truth is that simplistic slogans won’t solve this ... we need to respond to climate change with serious policy, not with slogans.”
The federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, is speaking now in Brisbane.
He has paid tribute to Samuel McPaul, the volunteer firefighter who died last night, and says the fire is a national crisis that “requires a national response from the government”.
“We are seeing in the very least dozens, but perhaps hundreds of homes lost... This fire does not respect state boundaries. And I again say this is a national issue. This is a national emergency. And it requires a national response from the government.”
Albanese adds that people need to listen to the warnings of their local fire authority.
“It’s a reminder of how important the ABC is and the role that it plays in keeping Australians safe,” he says.
Reports of homes lost in Batemans Bay, NSW.
Up north, closer to Nowra, residents near Sussex Inlet are evacuating towards the NSW coast, as fires are attacking the Princes Highway in both north and south directions.
Meanwhile, back in Victoria:
Photos coming in of houses now on fire in Mallacoota.
Despite some speculation in the last few minutes, the NSW transport minister, Andrew Constance, is not missing in the fires.
Just 10 minutes ago, Sky News tweeted that Constance was “unaccounted for” in the NSW fires.
But the ABC in Canberra then confirmed they had just spoken to the minister.
Reporter Jordan Hayne said: “I just spoke with Andrew Constance, he is not interested in speaking to the media, but confirmed he is ok for now at least.”
Here’s the scene in Cobargo, NSW, where the main street has been ravaged by fire and two people are missing.