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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
The ACT is expecting 100,o00 P2 masks from the commonwealth tomorrow morning. I am going to hand you over to Chris Knaus for the evening.
For those wanting a quick catch up:
There are no emergency warnings in NSW at the moment, although the Eden fire is causing a bit of trouble.
There is one emergency warning in Victoria.
This emergency warning is being issued for Barwidgee, Bobinawarrah, Bowmans Forest, Buffalo Creek, Buffalo River, Carboor, Carboor East, Carboor Upper, Dandongadale, Edi Upper, Everton, Gapsted, Kneebones Gap, Markwood, Meadow Creek, Merriang, Merriang South, Milawa, Mount Buffalo, Myrtleford, Nug Nug, Rose River, Whorouly, Whorouly East, Whorouly South.
Cooler conditions are giving a slight reprieve – firefighters are using it for shift changes and to attempt to get some more containment lines strengthened.
There is some rain in some areas of the south coast, but not enough to make a difference.
The ADF is continuing to evacuate people in Mallacoota – everyone who wants out should be able to leave today.
Scott Morrison has defended his leadership again, including releasing an ad detailing the government’s ADF response.
Again – thank you. Please, take care of you.
There are not a lot of flights coming in or out of Canberra at the moment.
Here is one of the reasons why:
Scott Morrison is asked what his message is, to the world at large, which is watching, and told that the social media hashtag is “Australia is on fire”.
His response is brief.
He is again asked about his leadership during this crisis:
Scott Morrison is asked if he has apologised to Shane Fitzsimmons for not telling him in advance about the ADF deployment – he says he has already done that.
The defence force chief Angus Campbell is also there.
Shane Fitzsimmons though, seizes the chance to provide another update:
Gladys Berejiklian is very quick:
The prime minister doesn’t want a press conference – he mentions both he and the premier had “fairly lengthy” ones already today, and they need to move on.
There is a cabinet meeting tomorrow, as well as a meeting of the national security committee of cabinet.
The prime minister, who said he would join Gladys Berejiklian and Shane Fitzsimmons today, is in Nowra.
NSW emergency services minister David Elliot has visited Wingello with deputy RFS commissioner, Rob Rogers.
The small village of about 300 people in the southern highlands was hit hard last night. At least six properties are confirmed destroyed – many of the along the main street. In the backstreets there are black paddocks and molten cars.
Elliot greets a number of firefighters there. They have had a big couple of days and tonight’s prospects are concerning. He asks a few of them what they need. “We’re good, thanks David, we’ve got everything”, one says.
Speaking to the ABC, Elliot says there are going to be huge concerns for mental health and trauma among the firefighters and affected residents.
He notes the mental health funding and services announced by the NSW government.
“My advice is if you need it, use it”, he says.
“Don’t be ashamed…we all need help.”
He’s also asked about going on holidays.
Elliot says that the holiday was planned with his family a long time ago, and that plan always included coming straight back if he was needed. He says that’s exactly what he did.
The ACT is expecting 100,000 P2 masks from the commonwealth tomorrow morning.
ACT chief minister Andrew Barr:ACT chief minister Andrew Barr:
Andrew Barr is addressing the media.Andrew Barr is addressing the media.
Canberra has the worst air quality in the world at the moment.Canberra has the worst air quality in the world at the moment.
Barr says masks are coming (you should be able to get them at your local chemists, with some hardware stores also providing them) but he advises residents to avoid leaving their homes.Barr says masks are coming (you should be able to get them at your local chemists, with some hardware stores also providing them) but he advises residents to avoid leaving their homes.
It may seem a bit better today - but we are just in the eye of the storm, Victorian authorities say. It may seem a bit better today but we are just in the eye of the storm, Victorian authorities say.
[cont from previous post]
Likewise David and Denise Gatrell, who have set up camp on the water’s edge.
They evacuated from the village of Towanba, near Eden, last week. First they moved to Eden, then, like John, got sent into Merimbula last night.
“We decided to leave early because a fire was a new experience for us and we were worried we might panic if we stayed,” Denise said.
“We’ve been told the village is safe for now but the fire is apparently circling around the village so we don’t know.”
Just in the past few minutes a few things have happened. First, the fire in Eden was downgraded from emergency level to watch and act. Then the first aerial support anyone has seen for a while started flying overhead. And now, incredibly, it’s started to rain a little bit. Not enough to make much of a difference, I’d say, but enough to elicit a few cheers from the people camping here.
Greetings from Merimbula, just north of Eden on the New South Wales far south coast.
I’ve travelled over here today from the Snowy Mountains. After the drive I think I know how Frodo felt heading into Mordor. The light went from orange to red to black and then back again.
There are people scattered everywhere. The official evacuation centre at the Sapphire Club is at or near capacity, and a lot of people have just taken up residence in parks along the water’s edge.
I spoke to a few of them just a minute ago and they’re in remarkably good cheer despite what they’ve been through. A number of people have been evacuated twice, first into Eden and then, last night, into Merimbula.
Eden resident John Ironmonger got a knock on the door from the police at 5pm yesterday was told to get out. Like everyone here, he had no idea whether his property had come under threat and is staying put with a friend for the time being.
“I don’t know when I’ll get back into Eden and to be honest I wouldn’t want to go back yet,” he said. “It was pretty bad yesterday. The sky was much darker than it is here and we didn’t really know what was happening.
“The information wasn’t really coming through other than the local ABC which is all we’ve been relying on. If the house goes it goes, we’re here and we’re safe.
“Everyone here has just been shuffled around from place to place.”
But the reprieve is not predicted to last long:
There’s an update on the East Gippsland fires:
Looks like the M5 is moving again, if you, or someone you know, were stuck on that.
It was silly at the time too. Anyone with a newborn, an elderly loved one, or just respiratory issues which make them more vulnerable are in distress. Even if they live in high-rise buildings and vote differently from the Queensland MP.
P2 masks are coming to Canberra.
They are sold out across the capital, and with mail deliveries still suspended and planes increasingly unable to land, there has been no word on when they would be restocked.
John Howard continued: