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Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face 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
In the Aboriginal community of Lake Tyers, about 35 people chose to stay on country when they came under threat from the East Gippsland fires, NITV reports.
“We’re a small community of 250 Aboriginal people, 46 houses out there. There’s roughly 35 community [members] who have stayed,” traditional owner Kerry Tregonning said.
“Most of them were born out here, they have no transport, some of them are hooked up to oxygen, there’s a lot of little things.”
There is an endless stream of jaw-dropping photos and videos on social media today.
An eerie darkness has settled over the New South Wales south coast town of Huskisson, as bushfires in the surrounding areas close in around the town.
By 3pm the town was entirely covered by a thick haze that made it feel more like 8pm.
Beaches that usually at this time of day would be crowded with tourists are abandoned, and at the main pub in town people watched nervously as ash fell from the sky and the last sunlight disappeared behind the smoky haze.
Many people have already left, but at about lunchtime authorities closed the Princes Highway and the Rural Fire Service sent text messages warning visitors to seek shelter as the fire arrived.
Suffice to say New Year’s Eve plans have taken a hit.
The fireworks had already been cancelled, but when we drove past the beach where the celebrations are usually held about 20 minutes ago it was completely empty.
At the apartment where I’m staying we’re all gathered around the air purifier and watching the rolling updates on ABC 24.
In NSW there are eight emergency level fires and nine watch and act level fires.
Seven of the emergency fires are in the south of the state, and one is on the Central Coast at Charmhaven.
In Victoria there are eight emergency warnings, all in the East Gippsland region except for one east of Albury (which has come from over the border in NSW where it is referred to by a different name)
Throughout the afternoon and evening we’ll do our best to bring you the latest on all of them.
Journalist and author Melissa Pouliot is in Wallagoot, near Tathra, living through her third “too close for comfort” experience with bushfires in a decade.Journalist and author Melissa Pouliot is in Wallagoot, near Tathra, living through her third “too close for comfort” experience with bushfires in a decade.
“We are packed, well prepared and informed,” she tweeted.“We are packed, well prepared and informed,” she tweeted.
After the March 2018 fires in Tathra, she organised the Book Love for Tathra appeal to return books to the 70 local families who lost their homes and home libraries in that fire.After the March 2018 fires in Tathra, she organised the Book Love for Tathra appeal to return books to the 70 local families who lost their homes and home libraries in that fire.
She says she was “also part of the black Saturday fires. I was living just out of Horsham, one kilometre from where that fire started, which destroyed Horsham golf club and surrounding houses”.She says she was “also part of the black Saturday fires. I was living just out of Horsham, one kilometre from where that fire started, which destroyed Horsham golf club and surrounding houses”.
This is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the rest of the day.This is Helen Davidson taking over the blog for the rest of the day.
The RACV says ongoing mobile coverage issues are affecting callouts for RACV emegency roadside assistance. This applies to Mallacoota, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Bruthen and Corryong.The RACV says ongoing mobile coverage issues are affecting callouts for RACV emegency roadside assistance. This applies to Mallacoota, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Bruthen and Corryong.
Members needing emergency assistance should contact 000.Members needing emergency assistance should contact 000.
The prime minister Scott Morrison has just announced the payments for volunteer firefighters will be extended to Queensland. It matches the payments offered to NSW last week.The prime minister Scott Morrison has just announced the payments for volunteer firefighters will be extended to Queensland. It matches the payments offered to NSW last week.
Morrison says it’s available to any state that asks for it.Morrison says it’s available to any state that asks for it.
In that press conference, Victorian emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp also went into more detail about what the defence force would do to help.In that press conference, Victorian emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp also went into more detail about what the defence force would do to help.
One of their jobs will be to undertake “initial impact assessments” throughout East Gippsland. That will help the CFA count the cost and damage of the fires.One of their jobs will be to undertake “initial impact assessments” throughout East Gippsland. That will help the CFA count the cost and damage of the fires.
“We expect those additional Australian defence force people to be on the ground tomorrow working with our Metropolitan Fire Brigade,” he said.“We expect those additional Australian defence force people to be on the ground tomorrow working with our Metropolitan Fire Brigade,” he said.
Another role is still under discussion, but the ADF could help support isolated communities, with new airplanes and helicopters brought in.Another role is still under discussion, but the ADF could help support isolated communities, with new airplanes and helicopters brought in.
“We’ve formalised two requests through Emergency Management Australia to the Australian defence force,” Crisp said. “”We’ve also been working through what some first support from the ADF could look like.“We’ve formalised two requests through Emergency Management Australia to the Australian defence force,” Crisp said. “”We’ve also been working through what some first support from the ADF could look like.
“We will continue to work through that with the ADF and they’ve assured us they’ll provide whatever support they can”.“We will continue to work through that with the ADF and they’ve assured us they’ll provide whatever support they can”.
It has been pointed out that the NSW emergency services minister, David Elliott, announced on Friday he would be going on holiday to Europe.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.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.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.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.”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.Guardian Australia has contacted Elliott’s office.
CFA chief officer Steve Warrington has some “relatively good news” for Mallacoota.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.“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.“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.”“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.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.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 eight 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.
“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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.
“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.
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.”
And quite shocking footage of a shopping centre filled with flames in Batemans Bay.