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| NSW fires live: RFS warns south coast tourists to leave as Victoria bushfires continue – latest | NSW fires live: RFS warns south coast tourists to leave as Victoria bushfires continue – latest |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| At least nine people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today | At least nine people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today |
| The Australian Defence Force has issued a statement today saying it has expanded its contribution to the bushfire effort. | |
| It is a very long press release that outlines everything Defence has done and plans to do during the crisis so I won’t reproduce it for you. What appears to be new since yesterday is: | |
| An expansion of the ground transport and logistics tasks already supported to five new locations – Tamworth, Mudgee, Nowra, Maitland and Queanbeyan. This task is expected to run from January 6-20. | |
| The provision of personnel and equipment to supplement state capabilities to clear and reopen roads in fire-affected areas of Victoria, as well as general engineering tasks to remove debris from public areas and clear fire breaks and fire trails. This will begin today with priority for the Gippsland region. | |
| Light engineering. Fire trail clearance at Mudgee from January 6-10. | |
| Recovery operations. Provision of personnel and equipment to undertake recovery tasks as identified and assessed by the NSW Government based on advice from specialist ADF advisers. These tasks - in Tamworth, Wollondilly, Nowra, Mudgee, Maitland and Wingecarribee - will start from January 6. | |
| As we’ve already reported, Defence also says HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore has begun “relief operations in Mallacoota this morning, including supporting the relocation of vulnerable and high-priority people to Westernport”. | |
| NSW authorities say people in the Kosciuszko national park must evacuate by 10am tomorrow. | |
| Here is the alert and evacuation notice from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. | |
| Current situation: | |
| There are large fires to the west and south of Kosciuszko national park that will move in an easterly direction in coming days. | |
| There are multiple other fires within the park which could expand in coming days. NPWS is continuing to gather intelligence about the location, size and predicted progress of these fires. | |
| Lightning and ember attacks may result in additional fires. | |
| It is unlikely that these fires will be contained in the coming days or weeks. | |
| The current weather forecast indicates that Saturday 4 January will be a bad fire weather day. Fires are likely to spread quickly prior to and during this Saturday. | |
| This is not a fire season that NSW has seen before. It is hotter and drier than we have previously experienced. | |
| Evacuations: | |
| An evacuation order is applied to all of Kosciuszko national park and resorts and all other places located within Kosciuszko national park. All people located in Kosciuszko national park must exit Kosciuszko national park boundaries before the deadline of 10am eastern daylight savings time Friday 3 January 2020. This is an essential measure to protect life. | |
| People outside of Kosciuszko national park need to monitor advice from the NSW RFS and other fire and emergency service agencies to remain informed as to whether other areas outside of Kosciuszko national park need to evacuate. | |
| Kosciuszko national park is closed for entry. Permanent residents and essential staff may enter but must have evacuated by the deadline of 10am, Friday 3 January 2020. | |
| This good news came in from NSW police late last night. | |
| Thredbo is being evacuated. | |
| The prime minister’s office has told media Scott Morrison will hold a press conference at 1pm in Sydney. | |
| I’ve been speaking to Kelly, who is down in the isolated town of Mallacoota who was holidaying with family when the fire hit on Tuesday. He was among the 4,000 people who took refuge on the foreshore. | I’ve been speaking to Kelly, who is down in the isolated town of Mallacoota who was holidaying with family when the fire hit on Tuesday. He was among the 4,000 people who took refuge on the foreshore. |
| As we have been hearing, supplies are running low in the town as the navy and police boats bring in food and water by sea. Reports are that about 100 homes have been destroyed. | As we have been hearing, supplies are running low in the town as the navy and police boats bring in food and water by sea. Reports are that about 100 homes have been destroyed. |
| “The town’s food supplies are getting a belting so not sure how long the food is going last,” Kelly said. “The local bakery has closed as of this morning as their generator [is down] so bread is now out of the question.” | “The town’s food supplies are getting a belting so not sure how long the food is going last,” Kelly said. “The local bakery has closed as of this morning as their generator [is down] so bread is now out of the question.” |
| His wife, Stacey, is a nurse and has walked down to the medical centre to offer some help. “They could not have been happier to see her as they are so under the pump with patients,” Kelly said. | His wife, Stacey, is a nurse and has walked down to the medical centre to offer some help. “They could not have been happier to see her as they are so under the pump with patients,” Kelly said. |
| “My boys done a sweep of the lake and picked up all the rubbish around the edges to help out in any way. We were meant to go home Saturday but that won’t be happening and to be honest we are happy to stay and help out in any way we can. | “My boys done a sweep of the lake and picked up all the rubbish around the edges to help out in any way. We were meant to go home Saturday but that won’t be happening and to be honest we are happy to stay and help out in any way we can. |
| “One thing I will say is fuck I’m a proud Australian because when the shit hits the fan people stop their lives to help those who are struggling to give them a hand back up.” | “One thing I will say is fuck I’m a proud Australian because when the shit hits the fan people stop their lives to help those who are struggling to give them a hand back up.” |
| For those looking to get out of the NSW south coast before Saturday, the ABC has this very useful article. | For those looking to get out of the NSW south coast before Saturday, the ABC has this very useful article. |
| Kerri Warren, a real estate agent in Mallacoota, says she estimates about 100 homes have been lost in the Victorian coastal town. That does not include other structures like sheds. | Kerri Warren, a real estate agent in Mallacoota, says she estimates about 100 homes have been lost in the Victorian coastal town. That does not include other structures like sheds. |
| I mentioned earlier this morning that Scott Morrison has declined to go on ABC News Breakfast to discuss the fires. That’s according to Michael Rowland, who noted the PM was yesterday entertaining the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at Kirribilli House. | I mentioned earlier this morning that Scott Morrison has declined to go on ABC News Breakfast to discuss the fires. That’s according to Michael Rowland, who noted the PM was yesterday entertaining the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at Kirribilli House. |
| “Hopefully we will see the prime minister touring some of the fire-ravaged areas over the course of the next day or so,” Rowland told viewers. | “Hopefully we will see the prime minister touring some of the fire-ravaged areas over the course of the next day or so,” Rowland told viewers. |
| The reaction to the fact Morrison is not front and centre during the crisis is continuing. | The reaction to the fact Morrison is not front and centre during the crisis is continuing. |
| The Ten Network’s national affairs editor, Hugh Riminton, has written this devastating piece. | The Ten Network’s national affairs editor, Hugh Riminton, has written this devastating piece. |
| Riminton argues that those arguing against action on the climate emergency have shifted from denial to the claim that Australia’s emissions are not globally significant. | Riminton argues that those arguing against action on the climate emergency have shifted from denial to the claim that Australia’s emissions are not globally significant. |
| But citing Australia’s efforts at war time and comparing, he writes: | But citing Australia’s efforts at war time and comparing, he writes: |
| Arguing the response from Canberra has equated to “nothing”, he concludes: | Arguing the response from Canberra has equated to “nothing”, he concludes: |
| The full piece is definitely worth a read. | The full piece is definitely worth a read. |
| Some readers from outside Australia have been in touch about the current fundraising efforts. To remind you, the Red Cross is running a fundraising drive, which you can read about here. | Some readers from outside Australia have been in touch about the current fundraising efforts. To remind you, the Red Cross is running a fundraising drive, which you can read about here. |
| My colleague Naaman Zhou looked at the ways you can assist in this story. Note that he compiled this piece before the Red Cross drive was established. | My colleague Naaman Zhou looked at the ways you can assist in this story. Note that he compiled this piece before the Red Cross drive was established. |