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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 updates | 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 updates |
| Images are continuing to emerge from the Southern Highlands, where some towns were was overcome by fire on Saturday evening. Embers from the Currowan fire jumped the Shoalhaven River and started a new blaze that moved northward towards the town of Wingello, where multiple homes have been destroyed. | |
| These images are from Guardian photographer Jessica Hromas, who was on the scene today. | |
| New Zealand’s defence force is pitching in to help Australia. The defence minister Ron Mark announced NZ would send three NH90 helicopters and crew, two NZ Army combat engineer sections, and a command element to support the ADF. | |
| “This latest NZDF support is being provided in addition to the latest rotation of five NZDF firefighters deployed to bolster numbers of emergency responders on the ground,” Mark said in a statement. | |
| Just back on those air quality issues in the ACT for a moment. Residents have been frustrated by shortages in P2 masks. To make matters worse, Australia Post has suspended services in the territory because of the heavy bushfire smoke, so ordering online is no help. | |
| Chief minister Andrew Barr now says new stocks of masks are due in Canberra, through chemists and hardware stores, either today or tomorrow. | Chief minister Andrew Barr now says new stocks of masks are due in Canberra, through chemists and hardware stores, either today or tomorrow. |
| The Voyager Point fire burning to Sydney’s south-west is causing nearby residents considerable concern. But the RFS has advised that crews are working to contain the fire and that there is no threat to homes. | The Voyager Point fire burning to Sydney’s south-west is causing nearby residents considerable concern. But the RFS has advised that crews are working to contain the fire and that there is no threat to homes. |
| The Victorian premier Daniel Andrews mentioned a little earlier that relief centres were struggling to process donated goods like clothing and food. | The Victorian premier Daniel Andrews mentioned a little earlier that relief centres were struggling to process donated goods like clothing and food. |
| Victoria’s emergency services have echoed that message. They want people to channel their noble intentions into donating cash instead. | Victoria’s emergency services have echoed that message. They want people to channel their noble intentions into donating cash instead. |
| The terrible air quality in the nation’s capital – rated the worst in the world on three separate days in recent weeks – is continuing to pose problems. This time, one of the ACT’s universities, the University of Canberra, has announced it has been forced to close its main campus for 48 hours. | The terrible air quality in the nation’s capital – rated the worst in the world on three separate days in recent weeks – is continuing to pose problems. This time, one of the ACT’s universities, the University of Canberra, has announced it has been forced to close its main campus for 48 hours. |
| Eerie footage of the drive between Tumut and Batlow in the foothills of NSW’s Snowy Mountains. Posted by Tom Lowrey, a reporter with the ABC. | Eerie footage of the drive between Tumut and Batlow in the foothills of NSW’s Snowy Mountains. Posted by Tom Lowrey, a reporter with the ABC. |
| The Kangaroo Island fire has also destroyed at least $20m worth of blue gum and pine trees on plantations run by Kanagaroo Island Plantation Timber. | The Kangaroo Island fire has also destroyed at least $20m worth of blue gum and pine trees on plantations run by Kanagaroo Island Plantation Timber. |
| On Friday KIPT said it was still assessing the damage, but at least 13% of its forests had been burned. | On Friday KIPT said it was still assessing the damage, but at least 13% of its forests had been burned. |
| The company said it would try to salvage wood from the areas that have already burned by bringing forward harvesting. | The company said it would try to salvage wood from the areas that have already burned by bringing forward harvesting. |
| “It was unfightable”, Bates said of the fire. | “It was unfightable”, Bates said of the fire. |
| “Is this our new normal? That’s the fear.” | “Is this our new normal? That’s the fear.” |
| She said the fires were “greatly subdued, but we’re in for some warmer weather midweek”. | She said the fires were “greatly subdued, but we’re in for some warmer weather midweek”. |
| “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” | “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” |
| Fire crews from Adelaide have relieved tired local volunteers, but Bates said locals would be keen to handle the mop up. | Fire crews from Adelaide have relieved tired local volunteers, but Bates said locals would be keen to handle the mop up. |
| She said tourists were evacuated to Penneshaw before boarding Sealink ferries to the mainland. | She said tourists were evacuated to Penneshaw before boarding Sealink ferries to the mainland. |
| “This is our very busiest peak time, this is when the influx comes”, she said. | “This is our very busiest peak time, this is when the influx comes”, she said. |
| “There were 10 or 11,000 people here, in total – that’s a bit of a guess.” | “There were 10 or 11,000 people here, in total – that’s a bit of a guess.” |
| Visitors have been asked not to come to the island unless it is essential. | Visitors have been asked not to come to the island unless it is essential. |
| “Most tourists want to visit our beautiful iconic sites – and of course there’s no access to that end of the island,” Bates said. | “Most tourists want to visit our beautiful iconic sites – and of course there’s no access to that end of the island,” Bates said. |
| “It’s best to give us all a bit of breathing space and then come back later.” | “It’s best to give us all a bit of breathing space and then come back later.” |
| Farmers on Kangaroo Island were shooting fire-injured sheep on Sunday as the small community prepared for more dangerous days ahead when hot weather returns in the middle of the week. | Farmers on Kangaroo Island were shooting fire-injured sheep on Sunday as the small community prepared for more dangerous days ahead when hot weather returns in the middle of the week. |
| Ferries to the mainland have been running almost around the clock to evacuate thousands of tourists back to the South Australian mainland, former mayor Jayne Bates said. | Ferries to the mainland have been running almost around the clock to evacuate thousands of tourists back to the South Australian mainland, former mayor Jayne Bates said. |
| Bates lives in Penneshaw, which is on the east of the island closest to the mainland and hosts its ferry terminal. | Bates lives in Penneshaw, which is on the east of the island closest to the mainland and hosts its ferry terminal. |
| Firefighters on the island have been battling fires since before Christmas that blazed out of control after extreme weather on Friday. | Firefighters on the island have been battling fires since before Christmas that blazed out of control after extreme weather on Friday. |
| The fires, which are still burning, started at the western end of the 160km-long island, and have burned about a third of it, devastating the island’s two main industries, tourism and farming. | The fires, which are still burning, started at the western end of the 160km-long island, and have burned about a third of it, devastating the island’s two main industries, tourism and farming. |
| Most of the tourist attractions are at the western end of the island. | Most of the tourist attractions are at the western end of the island. |
| They include the luxury Southern Ocean Lodge, which has been destroyed by fire, and the broader Flinders Chase wilderness area. | They include the luxury Southern Ocean Lodge, which has been destroyed by fire, and the broader Flinders Chase wilderness area. |
| Bates said a large number of farm buildings had also been destroyed. | Bates said a large number of farm buildings had also been destroyed. |
| “A lot of our blokes have gone out today to destroy injured sheep – you’re talking thousands,” she said. | “A lot of our blokes have gone out today to destroy injured sheep – you’re talking thousands,” she said. |
| “They’re digging pits.” | “They’re digging pits.” |
| The fires were “the worst we’ve ever had”, she said. | The fires were “the worst we’ve ever had”, she said. |
| “We had a big one in 2007 but not to this extent.” | “We had a big one in 2007 but not to this extent.” |
| “And the loss of the two lives – well.” | “And the loss of the two lives – well.” |
| Former pilot Dick Lang and his son Clayton Lang were killed when fire over-ran their car on Friday. | Former pilot Dick Lang and his son Clayton Lang were killed when fire over-ran their car on Friday. |
| Back in NSW, the latest figures suggest 146 fires are still burning across the state. About 65 have not been contained. | Back in NSW, the latest figures suggest 146 fires are still burning across the state. About 65 have not been contained. |
| A huge firefighting effort is continuing with 2,700 personnel in the field. | A huge firefighting effort is continuing with 2,700 personnel in the field. |
| The RFS says no total fire ban has been issued for Monday. | The RFS says no total fire ban has been issued for Monday. |
| Andrews is also quizzed on whether Victoria is doing enough hazard reduction work in the lead-up to the bushfire season. He said it’s getting harder and harder to find safe times to do hazard reduction burns. | Andrews is also quizzed on whether Victoria is doing enough hazard reduction work in the lead-up to the bushfire season. He said it’s getting harder and harder to find safe times to do hazard reduction burns. |