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Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires crisis has 'months to go' as Morrison announces recovery effort – latest updates Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires crisis has 'months to go' as Morrison announces recovery effort – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says he was frustrated to learn of ADF deployment from the media. Follow all today’s live news and latest updatesNSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says he was frustrated to learn of ADF deployment from the media. Follow all today’s live news and latest updates
Latest update on the NSW fires Big four bank ANZ says it will donate at least $1m to bushfire relief, including $300,000 for volunteer fire services in NSW, Victoria and South Australia and $500,000 for local community support services and homeloan customers who are in financial hardship after their houses were burned down.
Meanwhile, Australia has reached “pray for” status on social media thanks to French footballer Kylian Mbappé’s efforts on Instagram and Twitter.Earlier today, the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who has more than 37m followers on Instagram, urged his followers on both social media platforms to #prayforaustralia.So far the Instagram version of the message has more than 2m likes. It comes after accounting firm KPMG on Friday pledged a bushfire donation at the same time as it cancelled its annual couta boat race for CEOs.
Celeste Barber’s fundraiser is now at $21.5m. All the banks also have hardship programs in place for customers hit by the fires.
She started it on 3 January. The border fire has been downgraded to watch and act.
The government pledged $26m for additional aerial support on Saturday. Barber’s fundraising could top that. Victoria’s Country Fire Authority has asked people in Freeburgh, Harrietville, Smoko, Wandiligong and surrounding areas in the state’s high country to evacuate because multiple fires in the district are not yet under control.
Here is the latest warning on the Eden fire: The CFA warns those who stay that emergency services may not be able to help them.
Current Situation A relief centre is open at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre.
The fire crossed the Victorian border and spread rapidly following a strong southerly change. Daniel Andrews has had to delay his press conference, the ABC reports, because his plane can’t land due to smoke.
The fire is burning south of Eden. On Wonboyn, where up to 30 people sheltered in a NSW RFS shed after they were cut off by the border fire, the RFS is working on accessing them today.
The fire has impacted the areas of Wonboyn, Kiah, Narrabarba and surrounds. “There’s a search and rescue operation for those who may still be trapped in townships such as Wonboyn,” the RFS’s Ben Shepherd told the ABC.
The fire also spread on its western edge near Burragate. Getting supplies to them will probably have to come by sea.
Building impact assessment teams will be deployed to assess damage to properties. Helen Davidson has arrived in Wingello.
Advice She says six homes have been confirmed to have been destroyed so far, with another four in Bundanoon.
Wonboyn, Kiah, Narrabarba and surrounds If you need help with the government’s disaster management payment application, Centrelink call centres are open.
The fire has moved through this area. Disaster payment line 180 22 66 open today until 5pm AEDT.
Monitor the conditions and know what you will do if the fire threatens. Meanwhile New Zealand police have had to ask people in Auckland to stop calling their version of 000, because the sky (orange, as the sunlight is filtered through Australia’s bushfire smoke) is freaking them out.
Be alert for falling trees and branches.
A number of roads are fire affected, blocked or closed.
Burragate and Towamba
Monitor changing conditions and remain in place.
Seek shelter as the fire approaches and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
A number of roads are blocked and closed.
Be alert to embers and spot fires.
Be aware of the danger of falling trees and branches.
Wyndham, Rocky Hall, Nethercote, Eden and surrounds
Monitor the conditions and know what you will do if the fire threatens.
If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave towards Merimbula or Pambula.
Be alert for falling trees and branches.
Local roads may be affected by fire, blocked or closed.
The areas of Merimbula, Pambula and surrounds are not under threat.
According to the Live Traffic App, there is a section of the M5 which is closed in both directions between Henry Lawson Drive and Heathcote Rd in Hammondville because of thick smoke from nearby fires.
The border fire (which was renamed overnight as fires on the Victorian and NSW border merged) is still the one fire crews are most worried about.
That is the one that is impacting Eden.
More totally normal things.
Reports flights are being diverted because of the smoke.
Cooma is also dealing with the flooding impacts of a 4.5m-litre water tank exploding.
Asked if Labor could also be accused of playing politics with this – which is what it is accusing the government of having done – Ed Husic has this to say: