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| Australia Fires Intensify: ‘It’s Going to Be a Blast Furnace’ | Australia Fires Intensify: ‘It’s Going to Be a Blast Furnace’ |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| INVERLOCH, Australia — They fled from advancing firestorms that threatened to cut off their escape, only to have the race for their lives turn into a slog alongside the masses of others who crowded the roads. Thousands more waited, like soldiers on the beach at Dunkirk, for rescue by sea. | INVERLOCH, Australia — They fled from advancing firestorms that threatened to cut off their escape, only to have the race for their lives turn into a slog alongside the masses of others who crowded the roads. Thousands more waited, like soldiers on the beach at Dunkirk, for rescue by sea. |
| Across the scorched southeast, frightened Australians — grabbing a few cherished things, abandoning their homes and choking on smoke so heavy it blotted out the sun — struggled Thursday to evacuate as wildfires turned lush countryside into charcoal wasteland. | Across the scorched southeast, frightened Australians — grabbing a few cherished things, abandoning their homes and choking on smoke so heavy it blotted out the sun — struggled Thursday to evacuate as wildfires turned lush countryside into charcoal wasteland. |
| And from government officials came a disheartening warning: This weekend will be the worst period yet in Australia’s catastrophic fire season. | And from government officials came a disheartening warning: This weekend will be the worst period yet in Australia’s catastrophic fire season. |
| “It’s going to be a blast furnace,” Andrew Constance, the transport minister of New South Wales, told The Sydney Morning Herald. | “It’s going to be a blast furnace,” Andrew Constance, the transport minister of New South Wales, told The Sydney Morning Herald. |
| The blazes have overwhelmed the country’s firefighting resources, and the fire season, though still young, already ranks as the worst in Australia’s recorded history. | The blazes have overwhelmed the country’s firefighting resources, and the fire season, though still young, already ranks as the worst in Australia’s recorded history. |
| The state of New South Wales declared an emergency in its southeastern region on Thursday, calling on residents and vacationers to evacuate. Mr. Constance said the relocation was the largest in the region’s history. | The state of New South Wales declared an emergency in its southeastern region on Thursday, calling on residents and vacationers to evacuate. Mr. Constance said the relocation was the largest in the region’s history. |
| To the south, the state of Victoria declared a disaster on Thursday, allowing it to authorize the evacuation of areas along its eastern coast. | To the south, the state of Victoria declared a disaster on Thursday, allowing it to authorize the evacuation of areas along its eastern coast. |
| Using any means they could find, the authorities were warning people to evacuate. But with communication across much of the region spotty to nonexistent, it was not clear that everyone would get the message. | Using any means they could find, the authorities were warning people to evacuate. But with communication across much of the region spotty to nonexistent, it was not clear that everyone would get the message. |
| In just the past week, at least nine people have died, and many more are unaccounted for. In all, at least 18 people have died in this fire season. | In just the past week, at least nine people have died, and many more are unaccounted for. In all, at least 18 people have died in this fire season. |
| The blazes have consumed more than 1,000 houses, killed countless animals and ravaged a Pacific coast region of farms, bush, eucalyptus forests, mountains, lakes and vacation spots. About 15 million acres have been blackened over the past four months, and more than 100 wildfires are still burning. | The blazes have consumed more than 1,000 houses, killed countless animals and ravaged a Pacific coast region of farms, bush, eucalyptus forests, mountains, lakes and vacation spots. About 15 million acres have been blackened over the past four months, and more than 100 wildfires are still burning. |
| With the Southern Hemisphere summer barely underway and the country already reeling from record-breaking heat, no one expects relief any time soon. No rain is in the forecast. | With the Southern Hemisphere summer barely underway and the country already reeling from record-breaking heat, no one expects relief any time soon. No rain is in the forecast. |
| “We’re still talking four to six weeks at best before we start to see a meaningful reprieve in the weather,” Shane Fitzsimmons, the rural fire commissioner for the state of New South Wales, told reporters. | “We’re still talking four to six weeks at best before we start to see a meaningful reprieve in the weather,” Shane Fitzsimmons, the rural fire commissioner for the state of New South Wales, told reporters. |
| In Mallacoota, a coastal town in Victoria state, the Australian Navy on Friday began ferrying to safety some of the 4,000 people trapped there when flames cut off all escape routes on land. | |
| People camped on the beach and slept in small boats, they said, trying to shield themselves from flying embers as the inferno moved toward them. The heavy smoke meant only a few people with medical problems could be evacuated by helicopter. | People camped on the beach and slept in small boats, they said, trying to shield themselves from flying embers as the inferno moved toward them. The heavy smoke meant only a few people with medical problems could be evacuated by helicopter. |
| Among those on the beach was Justin Brady, a musician who just moved from Melbourne to Mallacoota, about 250 miles to the east. He managed to salvage a fiddle, a mandolin and some harmonicas before abandoning the home he built and its contents to the flames. | Among those on the beach was Justin Brady, a musician who just moved from Melbourne to Mallacoota, about 250 miles to the east. He managed to salvage a fiddle, a mandolin and some harmonicas before abandoning the home he built and its contents to the flames. |
| “It’s been pretty heavy,” he said. | “It’s been pretty heavy,” he said. |
| Others nearby were not nearly so measured, venting their anger at the national and state governments, which they said had not taken the crisis seriously enough. | Others nearby were not nearly so measured, venting their anger at the national and state governments, which they said had not taken the crisis seriously enough. |
| Michael Harkin, who lives in Sydney and was vacationing in Mallacoota, complained of “incompetent governance” that is “not keeping us safe at all.” | Michael Harkin, who lives in Sydney and was vacationing in Mallacoota, complained of “incompetent governance” that is “not keeping us safe at all.” |
| “I’m looking forward to getting somewhere that isn’t here,” he said. | “I’m looking forward to getting somewhere that isn’t here,” he said. |
| The emergency services minister of New South Wales, David Elliott, drew withering criticism on social media after he left the country on Tuesday for a vacation in Britain and France. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he said he would return “if the bushfire situation should demand it.” | The emergency services minister of New South Wales, David Elliott, drew withering criticism on social media after he left the country on Tuesday for a vacation in Britain and France. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he said he would return “if the bushfire situation should demand it.” |
| Mr. Elliott’s departure came just weeks after Prime Minister Scott Morrison was widely ridiculed for taking a vacation in Hawaii during the crisis. He cut his trip short. | Mr. Elliott’s departure came just weeks after Prime Minister Scott Morrison was widely ridiculed for taking a vacation in Hawaii during the crisis. He cut his trip short. |
| The Navy ship that arrived at Mallacoota, the HMAS Choules, delivered food, water and medical supplies, and was expected to leave with hundreds of evacuees. Once it is far enough from shore, the sickest people can be taken away by helicopter. | |
| The Choules will return for more people, officials said, but it will be a slow process; the trip to a safe port in the sprawling country is expected to take 17 hours. Many of the people aboard the cramped ship will have to spend most of that time sitting on the open deck. | |
| The evacuation orders have been easier to make than to carry out. | The evacuation orders have been easier to make than to carry out. |
| Two-lane roads are carrying highway-level traffic, and some roads have been closed by the fires or blocked by downed trees and power lines. Long lines of cars snake around gas stations, tanks run dry, and drives that would normally take two hours last half a day or more. | Two-lane roads are carrying highway-level traffic, and some roads have been closed by the fires or blocked by downed trees and power lines. Long lines of cars snake around gas stations, tanks run dry, and drives that would normally take two hours last half a day or more. |
| The state premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, said 17 people were still missing as fires swept alpine resorts and the normally bucolic Gippsland area. | The state premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, said 17 people were still missing as fires swept alpine resorts and the normally bucolic Gippsland area. |
| Thousands of people have gone days without electricity or phone service. With cell towers destroyed but landlines still working, long lines formed at pay phones, creating scenes from another era. Officials advised people to boil water before using it, after power failures knocked out local water treatment facilities. | Thousands of people have gone days without electricity or phone service. With cell towers destroyed but landlines still working, long lines formed at pay phones, creating scenes from another era. Officials advised people to boil water before using it, after power failures knocked out local water treatment facilities. |
| Stores have run short of essentials like diapers, baby formula, bread and bottled water. With lodgings full, many people fleeing the fires have been forced to sleep in their cars. | Stores have run short of essentials like diapers, baby formula, bread and bottled water. With lodgings full, many people fleeing the fires have been forced to sleep in their cars. |
| Businesses with generators have continued to operate, but some have run out of fuel, and others are near that point. | Businesses with generators have continued to operate, but some have run out of fuel, and others are near that point. |
| Craig Scott, the manager of a supermarket in Ulladulla, a beach town about 100 miles south of Sydney, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he planned to keep the generator there running by siphoning fuel from the tanks of fishing boats. He said the store had just gotten the generator a few months ago, when no one imagined how desperately it would be needed. | Craig Scott, the manager of a supermarket in Ulladulla, a beach town about 100 miles south of Sydney, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he planned to keep the generator there running by siphoning fuel from the tanks of fishing boats. He said the store had just gotten the generator a few months ago, when no one imagined how desperately it would be needed. |
| So vast and intense are the fires that they can create their own weather, generating winds as they suck in fresh air at ground level, and sparking lightning in the immense ash clouds that rise from them. | So vast and intense are the fires that they can create their own weather, generating winds as they suck in fresh air at ground level, and sparking lightning in the immense ash clouds that rise from them. |
| Canberra, Australia’s capital, recorded the worst air quality ever measured on Thursday; the largest city, Sydney, has been suffering through intense smoke for weeks; and ash from the blazes has darkened skies and coated glaciers in New Zealand, more than a thousand miles away. | Canberra, Australia’s capital, recorded the worst air quality ever measured on Thursday; the largest city, Sydney, has been suffering through intense smoke for weeks; and ash from the blazes has darkened skies and coated glaciers in New Zealand, more than a thousand miles away. |
| The fires have set off anger at Prime Minister Morrison, in particular. He has played down the role of global warming, opposed measures to combat climate change and, at least initially, rejected additional funding for firefighters. | The fires have set off anger at Prime Minister Morrison, in particular. He has played down the role of global warming, opposed measures to combat climate change and, at least initially, rejected additional funding for firefighters. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Morrison was heckled as he visited Cobargo, a New South Wales village where fires have killed two men and destroyed the main street. When he extended his hand to one woman, she said she would shake it only if he increased spending on firefighting. | On Thursday, Mr. Morrison was heckled as he visited Cobargo, a New South Wales village where fires have killed two men and destroyed the main street. When he extended his hand to one woman, she said she would shake it only if he increased spending on firefighting. |
| “You won’t be getting any votes down here, buddy,” one man yelled. “You’re out, son.” | “You won’t be getting any votes down here, buddy,” one man yelled. “You’re out, son.” |
| As Mr. Morrison left hurriedly, the man taunted him about returning to Kirribilli House, the prime minister’s elegant official residence in Sydney, with spectacular views of the harbor and the city. | As Mr. Morrison left hurriedly, the man taunted him about returning to Kirribilli House, the prime minister’s elegant official residence in Sydney, with spectacular views of the harbor and the city. |
| “I don’t see Kirribilli burning,” the man yelled. | “I don’t see Kirribilli burning,” the man yelled. |
| Mr. Morrison said he understood residents’ frustration. | Mr. Morrison said he understood residents’ frustration. |
| “I’m not surprised people are feeling very raw at the moment,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “That’s why I came today, to be here, to see it for myself, to offer what comfort I could.” | “I’m not surprised people are feeling very raw at the moment,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “That’s why I came today, to be here, to see it for myself, to offer what comfort I could.” |
| “I understand the very strong feelings people have — they’ve lost everything,” he said, adding that there were still “some very dangerous days ahead.” | “I understand the very strong feelings people have — they’ve lost everything,” he said, adding that there were still “some very dangerous days ahead.” |
| Livia Albeck-Ripka reported from Inverloch, Jamie Tarabay from Hong Kong, and Richard Pérez-Peña from London. Isabella Kwai contributed reporting from Sydney. | Livia Albeck-Ripka reported from Inverloch, Jamie Tarabay from Hong Kong, and Richard Pérez-Peña from London. Isabella Kwai contributed reporting from Sydney. |