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| Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfire communities assess damage as PM visits Kangaroo Island – latest updates | Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfire communities assess damage as PM visits Kangaroo Island – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Scott Morrison to tour island where there are grave fears for unique wildlife. NSW and Victorian communities clean up during a brief period of cooler weather. Follow the latest news and live updates | Scott Morrison to tour island where there are grave fears for unique wildlife. NSW and Victorian communities clean up during a brief period of cooler weather. Follow the latest news and live updates |
| NSW RFS crews will assess the Blue Mountains from the air this morning, after last night’s lightning strikes | |
| Another of those claims is that hazard reduction burns were stopped by the Greens and other environmental groups. | |
| Apart from the easily verifiable fact that the Greens are not in power anywhere in Australia, there is also fire authorities repeatedly telling us that hazard reduction burns were done, are becoming increasingly difficult to do because of shortened windows where it is safe, and these fires are so hot and enormous that they are burning through areas which had previously had fuel loads minimised by hazard reduction burns. | |
| Shane Fitzsimmons this morning: | |
| There is a lot of misinformation about the Australian fires being spread out there. A lot. | |
| Some of the most damaging is that the fires have all been deliberately lit. | |
| Christopher Knaus has examined how those claims are being spread: | |
| NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was also asked about hazard reduction burns. | |
| He said it was part of the mix, and worth a discussion, but that it was not a “panacea”. | |
| The Labor leader Anthony Albanese is also in South Australia today (Scott Morrison is headed to Kangaroo Island). | |
| He will hold a media conference in Adelaide at 11am local time. | |
| In NSW, there are 117 fires still burning. 50 of those are not contained | |
| Lightning strikes in the Blue Mountains have authorities worried, with dangerous fire conditions expected tomorrow and Friday. | Lightning strikes in the Blue Mountains have authorities worried, with dangerous fire conditions expected tomorrow and Friday. |
| In Victoria, bushfires have begun to merge, becoming larger. At least 12 are still active. | |
| More than 6 million hectares have been burned in those two states alone. | More than 6 million hectares have been burned in those two states alone. |
| In South Australia, fire crews are facing a day of “extreme” fire danger. The Kangaroo Island fire is the most concerning at this stage, and not contained. 160,000 hectares have burned there so far, with 56 homes destroyed. | |
| There were 116 livestock producers within the fire zone, with mass losses expected. There are reports that up to 1,000 beehives have also been destroyed. | |
| Both NSW and Victorian authorities have now asked people to stop donating goods, stressing that it is very generous and people are grateful but they have no way to store or distribute the goods and food and other donations, including secondhand furniture. | Both NSW and Victorian authorities have now asked people to stop donating goods, stressing that it is very generous and people are grateful but they have no way to store or distribute the goods and food and other donations, including secondhand furniture. |
| NSW state director of the office of emergency management, Wendy Graham, says it was not overplaying it to say it is a “second disaster”, and while people are incredibly grateful, they just can’t cope with the additional logistical challenges at the moment. | NSW state director of the office of emergency management, Wendy Graham, says it was not overplaying it to say it is a “second disaster”, and while people are incredibly grateful, they just can’t cope with the additional logistical challenges at the moment. |
| “The most important thing is that we provide help in the way that help is most needed,” she told the ABC. | “The most important thing is that we provide help in the way that help is most needed,” she told the ABC. |
| “We are listening to communities at the moment, what we are hearing from them is that they no not need donated goods such as clothing and toys and furniture. They have nowhere to put these things at the moment. | “We are listening to communities at the moment, what we are hearing from them is that they no not need donated goods such as clothing and toys and furniture. They have nowhere to put these things at the moment. |
| “Items like that can become the next disaster for communities, as they fill up community spaces and community halls. | “Items like that can become the next disaster for communities, as they fill up community spaces and community halls. |
| “The most effective way that people can help right now is to donate money to those established charities. Money is so important for people at this point in time, because it gives people the choice to get what they need, when they need it. That is what is needed most.” | “The most effective way that people can help right now is to donate money to those established charities. Money is so important for people at this point in time, because it gives people the choice to get what they need, when they need it. That is what is needed most.” |
| Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has also said something similar over the past two days. | Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has also said something similar over the past two days. |
| Australia retailers, such as the Iconic, an online distributor, have banded together in an attempt to help. On Thursday, 100% of profits from many Australian retailers will go to the bushfire recovery effort, but the Iconic is also offering its warehouses and distribution network, to help store and later spread out donations, as people once again have homes to move into. | Australia retailers, such as the Iconic, an online distributor, have banded together in an attempt to help. On Thursday, 100% of profits from many Australian retailers will go to the bushfire recovery effort, but the Iconic is also offering its warehouses and distribution network, to help store and later spread out donations, as people once again have homes to move into. |
| For more information on other retailers donating profits to the Red Cross disaster relief and recovery plan, as well as how to set up your own initiative and avoid scams, read Guardian Australia’s guide to donating to Australia’s bushfire crisis: | |
| NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who yesterday went to the second funeral for one of his volunteers, Andrew O’Dwyer, and spent time speaking to his family, including O’Dwyer’s 19-month-old daughter, Charlotte, was asked how he was going on ABC news this morning: | NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who yesterday went to the second funeral for one of his volunteers, Andrew O’Dwyer, and spent time speaking to his family, including O’Dwyer’s 19-month-old daughter, Charlotte, was asked how he was going on ABC news this morning: |
| The UK’s Channel 4 has also gone on the road with NSW RFS crews. | The UK’s Channel 4 has also gone on the road with NSW RFS crews. |
| Australia’s bushfire crisis remains huge news in the UK. | Australia’s bushfire crisis remains huge news in the UK. |
| And a missive from the field. | And a missive from the field. |
| Prince Charles has joined the Queen, and his children, in speaking publicly about the Australian bushfires. | Prince Charles has joined the Queen, and his children, in speaking publicly about the Australian bushfires. |
| From the statetment on the PM’s planned Kangaroo Island visit: | From the statetment on the PM’s planned Kangaroo Island visit: |
| Good morning, | Good morning, |
| You have Amy Remeikis with you again today. | You have Amy Remeikis with you again today. |
| We enter Wednesday with concerns about the Blue Mountains after lightning strikes in the area. | |
| Fire authorities are keeping an eye on the region after the storms – lightning is an issue not just because of the immediate fire risk, but because it can cause fire to smoulder in tree roots and bases, then flare up when fire conditions become dangerous – which is what we are expecting later this week. | |
| Scott Morrison is on his way to Kangaroo Island. The Ravine bushfire is still burning and one-third of the island has been ravaged. A father and son died during the blaze and the impact to the community, and wildlife, has been immense. | |
| And there have been more big donations from celebrities – including Elton John, who last night pledged a million dollars to the fire recovery effort. | |
| We’ll bring you all of the day’s events, as they happen. |