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Australia fires live: Mallacoota fire in Victoria turns sky black as NSW faces bushfires threat - latest updates Australia fires live: Mallacoota fire in Victoria turns sky black as NSW faces 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
Fitzsimmons says there is a fire burning right across the Princes Highway towards Bateman’s Bay.
We have been seeing some very concerning images coming out of that popular holiday spot.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is addressing the media.
There are eight fires burning at emergency level right now, he says.
The most impacted areas, accoridng to reoprts, are Cobargo, Broulee to Mogo and Fisherman’s Paradise.
More from the Cobargo area.
Meanwhile, in NSW, there are some concerning images from Bateman’s Bay.
Here is what we know so far.
16 fires are burning at emergency level across Australia, eight in Victoria and eight in NSW, with the entire East Gippsland region under an emergency alert.
One firefighter has died overnight, and others injured, in a “freakish weather event” near Albury, described as a “fire tornado” that overturned a 10-tonne truck on flat, stable ground.
In Victoria, four people are missing, and premier Daniel Andrews said authorities “have real fears for their safety”.
4,000 residents have been evacuated from the town of Mallacoota and are sheltering on the foreshore, as the firefront hit properties this morning. Photos taken from 9am showed the sky pitch black.
Victoria’s emergency services commissioner, Andrew Crisp, confirmed “significant property losses across all of East Gippsland”.
5,700 homes are without power in East Gippsland, and more than 200,000ha have been burned.
200 new fires started on Monday, and 60 new fires started from midnight until now. These conditions were worse than predicted, and the bureau of meteorology will be updating its forecast to be worse than originally thought.
In NSW, residents of Cobargo were evacuated as the firefront reached the town and impacted homes.
People in bushfire prone areas between Batemans Bay and Bega, and also the south coast town of Tathra, have also been told to evacuate.
Robert Jackson, and his mother and sister, left his 15-acre farm at Bumberrah late Monday after repeated calls from friends and family telling him to get out. “Eventually I thought: fine! I’m leaving! You can stop calling me.
“With him he brought five chickens, two kittens, an adult cat, three Jack Russell terriers, and two cattle dogs. The whole group camped out together across two Land Rovers and a small tent outside the Bairnsdale relief centre. Hundreds of people spent the night inside.
“The chickens seem to be happy, they are still laying eggs,” he said.As of 11am, they have laid three legs.”
He has heard from neighbours that the fire, which significantly impacted Bumberrah, skipped over their place. He plans to return once the road is open.
While the focus today has been on the emergencies in Victoria and NSW, there is also a fire threat in Tasmania, where firefighters worked through the night to protect about 20 properties.
This video was posted on Facebook about 11am. Taken by a resident and sent to their neighbour who has posted it online.
Crisp says there have been 200,000ha burnt or burning across East Gippsland. Separately, it’s been reported there are about 20,000 homes without power in Victoria.Crisp says there have been 200,000ha burnt or burning across East Gippsland. Separately, it’s been reported there are about 20,000 homes without power in Victoria.
Crisp says there wasn’t an evacuation order for Mallacoota (while other towns were evacuated over Sunday and Monday). They couldn’t move out of the town because of fires in the west, and to the north-east in NSW.Crisp says there wasn’t an evacuation order for Mallacoota (while other towns were evacuated over Sunday and Monday). They couldn’t move out of the town because of fires in the west, and to the north-east in NSW.
Andrews says the Victorian government has requested assistance from 70 fire fighters from the US and Canada.Andrews says the Victorian government has requested assistance from 70 fire fighters from the US and Canada.
Andrews says he has asked the prime minister for assistance from the defence force this morning. The two spoke via text message today.Andrews says he has asked the prime minister for assistance from the defence force this morning. The two spoke via text message today.
The official is asked what will happen to those who did not evacuate to the foreshore at Mallacoota. Warrington is asked what will happen to those who did not evacuate to the foreshore at Mallacoota.
He says people in the town were briefed and knew that they were to move to the beach when sirens sounded. That occurred at 8am.He says people in the town were briefed and knew that they were to move to the beach when sirens sounded. That occurred at 8am.
Fire crews will not be sent to isolated communities, he says.Fire crews will not be sent to isolated communities, he says.
Those that did not move to the beach were “taking their chances”.Those that did not move to the beach were “taking their chances”.
There are homes being lost in and around Mallacoota “as we speak”.There are homes being lost in and around Mallacoota “as we speak”.
A number of homes have been lost in Mallacoota, but the town is still under attack, an official says. A number of homes have been lost in Mallacoota, but the town is still under attack, CFA chief officer Steve Warrington says.
The town is “pitch black” but three strike teams are standing side by side to protect those who have evacuated to the beach front.The town is “pitch black” but three strike teams are standing side by side to protect those who have evacuated to the beach front.
“It is quite scary in that community. The community right now is under threat but we will hold our line and they will be safe and protected.”“It is quite scary in that community. The community right now is under threat but we will hold our line and they will be safe and protected.”
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews says there are four people in the state who are unaccounted for.
“And of course we have fears for their safety,” he says.
Crisp says there has been “significant property” losses across East Gippsland.
He names towns including Sarsfield, Buchan and Gelantipy.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews says there are four people in the state who are unaccounted for.
“And of course we have fears for their safety,” he says.
He declines to say where but notes they were in active fire environments.
Crisp turns to Mallacoota, which is he says is facing an ember attack right now. He confirms there are 4,000 people on the beach who are being protected by firefighters there.
Crisp pays respect to NSW RFS volunteer Samuel McPaul, who died yesterday.
He says in the north-east of Victoria, there have been property losses in at a town near Kooriyong. Kooriyong is being impacted by the fire which ran 30km last night.
The Victorian emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, is addressing media.
He says there were 200 new fires yesterday, and 60 new fires that started after midnight.
More than 200 horses spent the night in Bairnsdale saleyards last night while their worried owners camped at the nearby evacuation centre or found other places to lay their swags in town.
Melanie McCann and her 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle spent the night on the floor of her workplace in town while fire threatened their property at Nicholson. They moved three horses into the saleyards at 11.30am on Monday and helped a neighbour move theirs. They learned from that same neighbour this morning that their house had been spared.
“We came into town ourselves about 4.30pm and my husband came in at 6pm ... no point putting anyone in danger if they don’t need to be. The saleyards have been providing free board, and in some cases feed, for displaced stock for several days. Some horses have come from as far away as Omeo. There are cattle, goats, sheep, and even a watchful maremma in the yards.
Johanna Toohey moved four of her horses off her property just north of Bairnsdale, in the path of the Barmouth Spur Fire, on Saturday. They came to the saleyards on Sunday. She spent the night on the floor of a rental property she owns in Bairnsdale, which just happened to be vacant.
“There was no furniture, no power, but it was somewhere to be safe.”
An irate sheep, which she also brought into town along with her dog and cats, spent the night bellowing in the backyard. She returned to get them at 4.30pm, when the column of smoke was looming over the town, then turned the sprinklers on and left. She packed so quickly that she had to make a late-night trip to Kmart to buy underwear.
“My home is safe,” she said. “I have got no water left because I used it all ... there is not a drop of water in the house.
This photo was posted about an hour ago at Cobargo in the Bega Valley, NSW.