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| NSW, Victoria fires: Australian bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – live | NSW, Victoria fires: Australian bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates | Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates |
| There has been a lot of discussion over the past week about hazard reduction burns. Specifically, whether more hazard reduction burns could have prevented the current bushfire crisis, and whether hazard reduction burns have been prevented by “green tape.” | |
| I thought I would draw attention to this thread from environmental scientist Cormac Farrell, who works in bushfire prevention and is also the Australian Parliament’s head beekeeper. | |
| He says, basically, that community safety trumps environmental concerns when it comes to hazard reduction burns. So if burns are happening less often it’s because it is not safe to do so, not because greenies are blocking them. | |
| I’ve also seen some discussion about fuel reduction burn targets being abandoned. I’ve spoken to fire authorities in Victoria and Tasmania about this before, and the consensus wisdom is that the targets do not work because the easiest way to meet a target is to lob blazeballs out of a helicopter and burn a big bit of bush in the middle of a state forest or national park. | |
| That will hit the five or 10% fuel reduction target, but will not necessarily be the kind of targeted hazard protection that actually makes the community safer. | |
| Conditions appear to be worsening in East Gippsland. | |
| The town of Bruthen, east of Bairnsdale, has just been ordered to evacuate. | |
| And there’s a new emergency warning for the northern parts of East Gippsland, near Goongerah. | |
| This is what residents are being told on the south coast of NSW. Tourists have been strongly advised for two days to get out — they should already have left. | |
| Speaking of sport, the fire alarms at Melbourne’s AAMI Park seem to have been set off by the bushfire smoke that has settled over the city. Earlier, Victorian authorities said the air quality in the city was “very poor” to “hazardous”. | Speaking of sport, the fire alarms at Melbourne’s AAMI Park seem to have been set off by the bushfire smoke that has settled over the city. Earlier, Victorian authorities said the air quality in the city was “very poor” to “hazardous”. |
| The A-League match between Melbourne City and Western United is due to start at 7.30pm. | The A-League match between Melbourne City and Western United is due to start at 7.30pm. |
| Tennis Australia announces exhibition match | Tennis Australia announces exhibition match |
| Let’s do a round-up of sports-bodies and persons raising money for bushfire relief. | Let’s do a round-up of sports-bodies and persons raising money for bushfire relief. |
| Tennis Australia has announced it will host an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena on 15 January to raise money for the Red Cross bushfire appeal. It’s also donating the profits from a Jessica Mauboy concert, scheduled for 19 January, and pledged $1m to help rebuild tennis facilities in bushfire affected communities. | Tennis Australia has announced it will host an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena on 15 January to raise money for the Red Cross bushfire appeal. It’s also donating the profits from a Jessica Mauboy concert, scheduled for 19 January, and pledged $1m to help rebuild tennis facilities in bushfire affected communities. |
| The idea of a charity exhibition match was raised by Nick Krygios, who has encouraged a flood of donations and offers of support from other athletes. | The idea of a charity exhibition match was raised by Nick Krygios, who has encouraged a flood of donations and offers of support from other athletes. |
| The AFL has also said it will raise funds for bushfire relief. CEO Gillion McLauchlan said in a statement today that the organisation was working on a coordinated response to support fundraising efforts. | The AFL has also said it will raise funds for bushfire relief. CEO Gillion McLauchlan said in a statement today that the organisation was working on a coordinated response to support fundraising efforts. |
| Nathan Buckley has also said... this: | Nathan Buckley has also said... this: |
| This is the map of predicted fire spread in NSW that deputy commissioner Rob Rogers was speaking about earlier. The red zones are areas where the fire is expected to grow, the crosshatched areas are areas of potential ember attack. | This is the map of predicted fire spread in NSW that deputy commissioner Rob Rogers was speaking about earlier. The red zones are areas where the fire is expected to grow, the crosshatched areas are areas of potential ember attack. |
| But, as noted earlier, this only covers existing fires. New fires — and with extreme to catastrophic conditions throughout southeast NSW, you can bet on new fires starting — could occur outside of these highlighted areas. | But, as noted earlier, this only covers existing fires. New fires — and with extreme to catastrophic conditions throughout southeast NSW, you can bet on new fires starting — could occur outside of these highlighted areas. |
| Here is the video of that interview with Zoey Salucci-McDermott, the pregnant 20-year-old woman at Cobargo who refused to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand. | Here is the video of that interview with Zoey Salucci-McDermott, the pregnant 20-year-old woman at Cobargo who refused to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand. |
| There has been a bit of inconsistency with the spelling of Zoey’s name, but it is with a -y. Apologies if we got that wrong before. | There has been a bit of inconsistency with the spelling of Zoey’s name, but it is with a -y. Apologies if we got that wrong before. |
| Local fire chief for PM: a report from the gridlocked NSW south coast | Local fire chief for PM: a report from the gridlocked NSW south coast |
| Guardian Australia’s investigations editor Anne Davies is among those who have been trying to leave the south coast of NSW, following the advice of NSW fire services. | Guardian Australia’s investigations editor Anne Davies is among those who have been trying to leave the south coast of NSW, following the advice of NSW fire services. |
| She has filed this dispatch: | She has filed this dispatch: |
| Rob Rogers also spoke at that press conference about the risk that fires on either side of the Victoria/NSW border could merge. | Rob Rogers also spoke at that press conference about the risk that fires on either side of the Victoria/NSW border could merge. |
| That’s the Corryong fire, on the Victorian side of the border, and the Tumbaruma fire on the NSW side. There is a risk that the smoke columns for those fires could be drawn together, as happened with the two largest fires in East Gippsland on Monday, and cause the fires to merge. | That’s the Corryong fire, on the Victorian side of the border, and the Tumbaruma fire on the NSW side. There is a risk that the smoke columns for those fires could be drawn together, as happened with the two largest fires in East Gippsland on Monday, and cause the fires to merge. |
| Depending on winds, that could send it back toward Thredbo and Perisher Valley, and even the ACT. | Depending on winds, that could send it back toward Thredbo and Perisher Valley, and even the ACT. |
| Earlier in that press conference, premier Gladys Berejiklian was asked whether NSW had been offered assistance from the ADF to help evacuate the south coast, or whether that assistance had been denied. | Earlier in that press conference, premier Gladys Berejiklian was asked whether NSW had been offered assistance from the ADF to help evacuate the south coast, or whether that assistance had been denied. |
| She said: | She said: |
| Another reporter asked deputy RFS commissioner Rob Rogers if he agreed with comments from former fire chief Greg Mullins, who said this morning that the prime minister should call in additional aerial support from Europe. | Another reporter asked deputy RFS commissioner Rob Rogers if he agreed with comments from former fire chief Greg Mullins, who said this morning that the prime minister should call in additional aerial support from Europe. |
| Rogers says he does not agree with Mullins, and they do not require more aircraft. | Rogers says he does not agree with Mullins, and they do not require more aircraft. |
| Rogers said there were national arrangements for sharing aircraft and other resources with other states and territories and he was “very comfortable” with those arrangements. | Rogers said there were national arrangements for sharing aircraft and other resources with other states and territories and he was “very comfortable” with those arrangements. |
| Rob Rogers says that some areas of NSW are going to reach catastrophic fire danger ratings tomorrow. It is not widespread enough to bump a whole region up from extreme to catastrophic, but he says the RFS will be preparing for catastrophic conditions. | Rob Rogers says that some areas of NSW are going to reach catastrophic fire danger ratings tomorrow. It is not widespread enough to bump a whole region up from extreme to catastrophic, but he says the RFS will be preparing for catastrophic conditions. |
| The fire danger rating for the southeastern corner of NSW on Saturday is extreme. | The fire danger rating for the southeastern corner of NSW on Saturday is extreme. |
| Rogers says: | Rogers says: |
| The cool change, which is forecast to come through Victoria and East Gippsland around midday, will not reach those areas of NSW until very late at night, or even after midnight. That is much later than the change came through on New Year’s Eve. And the later the change, the worse the conditions. | The cool change, which is forecast to come through Victoria and East Gippsland around midday, will not reach those areas of NSW until very late at night, or even after midnight. That is much later than the change came through on New Year’s Eve. And the later the change, the worse the conditions. |
| RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says that NSW is likely to lose more homes tomorrow. More than 1,200 houses have already been destroyed throughout the state so far this fire season. | RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says that NSW is likely to lose more homes tomorrow. More than 1,200 houses have already been destroyed throughout the state so far this fire season. |
| Rogers says there are five areas of concern: the Shoalhaven region, the south coast from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, the Snowy Valley area, the Blue Mountains, and the NSW north coast. | Rogers says there are five areas of concern: the Shoalhaven region, the south coast from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, the Snowy Valley area, the Blue Mountains, and the NSW north coast. |
| There will be 3,000 fires and 700 aircraft fighting fires around the state and an additional 650 fire fighters and 150 fire appliances standing by as surge capacity. | There will be 3,000 fires and 700 aircraft fighting fires around the state and an additional 650 fire fighters and 150 fire appliances standing by as surge capacity. |
| Rogers says he thinks that most communities in that at-risk area would be aware of the risk, and the recommendation to leave. He said anyone who ignores that advice to leave must take responsibility for their own safety. | Rogers says he thinks that most communities in that at-risk area would be aware of the risk, and the recommendation to leave. He said anyone who ignores that advice to leave must take responsibility for their own safety. |
| Four of those confirmed dead in the NSW south coast fires since New Year’s Eve were found in cars. | Four of those confirmed dead in the NSW south coast fires since New Year’s Eve were found in cars. |
| NSW: leave tonight from all at-risk fire regions | NSW: leave tonight from all at-risk fire regions |
| NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is holding a press conference in Sydney. | NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is holding a press conference in Sydney. |
| She says there is still a window for people leaving the south coast to leave the area via the Princes Highway, which has been opened to allow thousands of people to leave. | She says there is still a window for people leaving the south coast to leave the area via the Princes Highway, which has been opened to allow thousands of people to leave. |
| RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says that people in the area of concern, which is almost the entirety of the south coast of NSW, from Nowra down, need to leave tonight — they cannot wait until tomorrow morning. | RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says that people in the area of concern, which is almost the entirety of the south coast of NSW, from Nowra down, need to leave tonight — they cannot wait until tomorrow morning. |
| The Bureau of Meteorology has released a weather update for tomorrow, focusing on the fire danger. | The Bureau of Meteorology has released a weather update for tomorrow, focusing on the fire danger. |
| Mt Hotham resort closed due to fires | Mt Hotham resort closed due to fires |
| The Mt Hotham resort has been closed due to worsening bushfire conditions in the northeast, chief executive Jon Hutchins says. | The Mt Hotham resort has been closed due to worsening bushfire conditions in the northeast, chief executive Jon Hutchins says. |
| A small team of “essential staff” will remain “for asset protection and to support our local CFA staff”. They will use snowmaking equipment to protect key assets from fire, if required. | A small team of “essential staff” will remain “for asset protection and to support our local CFA staff”. They will use snowmaking equipment to protect key assets from fire, if required. |
| Mt Hotham is within the area declared a state of disaster in Victoria. All visitors to the mountain have left, Hutchins says, and anyone planning on visiting the area has been urged to stay away. | Mt Hotham is within the area declared a state of disaster in Victoria. All visitors to the mountain have left, Hutchins says, and anyone planning on visiting the area has been urged to stay away. |
| There are some smaller fires burning in the area already, and it is northeast of the 200,000 hectare Barmouth-Spur fire, the largest of the 550,000 hectare fires burning in East Gippsland. | There are some smaller fires burning in the area already, and it is northeast of the 200,000 hectare Barmouth-Spur fire, the largest of the 550,000 hectare fires burning in East Gippsland. |
| Mt Hotham is already cut off to the south by closures to the Great Alpine Road, which has been closed since 21 December, and the Dargo High Plains Road, which is also closed due to fire. | Mt Hotham is already cut off to the south by closures to the Great Alpine Road, which has been closed since 21 December, and the Dargo High Plains Road, which is also closed due to fire. |
| The Bogong High Plains Road and the Benambra-Corryong Road are also closed. | The Bogong High Plains Road and the Benambra-Corryong Road are also closed. |
| The young woman who refused Scott Morrison’s handshake has spoken to the media. | The young woman who refused Scott Morrison’s handshake has spoken to the media. |
| Zoey Salucci-McDermott, 20, told the Ten Network that the encounter with the prime minister left her “in shock” and broke her heart. | Zoey Salucci-McDermott, 20, told the Ten Network that the encounter with the prime minister left her “in shock” and broke her heart. |
| Salucci-McDermott, who is 28 weeks pregnant, told the PM she would not shake his hand until he promised more funding for the rural fire service. | Salucci-McDermott, who is 28 weeks pregnant, told the PM she would not shake his hand until he promised more funding for the rural fire service. |
| In footage of the encounter, which has been beamed around the world, the prime minister is seen taking Salucci-McDermott’s hand anyway after she declines his handshake, before turning his back and walking away. | In footage of the encounter, which has been beamed around the world, the prime minister is seen taking Salucci-McDermott’s hand anyway after she declines his handshake, before turning his back and walking away. |
| Salucci-McDermott, who lost her home in the fires, told Ten: “It broke my heart, I would have happily sat down and had a cuppa with him if he’d just asked if I was okay.” | Salucci-McDermott, who lost her home in the fires, told Ten: “It broke my heart, I would have happily sat down and had a cuppa with him if he’d just asked if I was okay.” |
| “I told him it was a war zone, and he walked away, and it broke my heart. | “I told him it was a war zone, and he walked away, and it broke my heart. |
| “I couldn’t do anything but stand there.” | “I couldn’t do anything but stand there.” |
| She added that she thought Morrison’s visit was insincere but also wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt at first. | She added that she thought Morrison’s visit was insincere but also wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt at first. |
| “When we saw him turn up he was originally taking photos with whoever wanted to take photos ... So I felt it was insincere but I don’t like to judge a book by its cover,” she said. | “When we saw him turn up he was originally taking photos with whoever wanted to take photos ... So I felt it was insincere but I don’t like to judge a book by its cover,” she said. |
| “He did come up because he did obviously saw I had a child and was obviously pregnant. He came up to us and just went to shake my hand. I said, ‘I can’t.’ You know all that. You saw the video. | “He did come up because he did obviously saw I had a child and was obviously pregnant. He came up to us and just went to shake my hand. I said, ‘I can’t.’ You know all that. You saw the video. |
| “And with the walking away, he wasn’t here to help us, was he?” | “And with the walking away, he wasn’t here to help us, was he?” |
| On Friday, Morrison claimed he had discussed funding for fire services with Salucci-McDermott when asked why he had turned away from her. Guardian Australia understands there was no further conversation, beyond that shown in the footage. | On Friday, Morrison claimed he had discussed funding for fire services with Salucci-McDermott when asked why he had turned away from her. Guardian Australia understands there was no further conversation, beyond that shown in the footage. |
| CFS chief officer Mark Jones said he “sincerely hoped” there were no people remaining on the western half of Kangaroo Island. | CFS chief officer Mark Jones said he “sincerely hoped” there were no people remaining on the western half of Kangaroo Island. |
| If you do not need to be on Kangaroo Island, SA premier Steven Marshall said, they should avoid the area today. | If you do not need to be on Kangaroo Island, SA premier Steven Marshall said, they should avoid the area today. |
| As the mayor of Kangaroo Island, Peter Clements, just told ABC24, it’s “a bugger of a day”. | As the mayor of Kangaroo Island, Peter Clements, just told ABC24, it’s “a bugger of a day”. |
| He said he expected the fire to burn through the entirety of the Flinders Chase national park, which takes up the southwest corner of the island. | He said he expected the fire to burn through the entirety of the Flinders Chase national park, which takes up the southwest corner of the island. |
| Clements said anyone who remained in the western area of the island were “bloody idiots”. | Clements said anyone who remained in the western area of the island were “bloody idiots”. |