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Australia fires live: third death in Victoria confirmed as NSW bushfires communities assess damage – latest updates Australia fires live: third death in Victoria confirmed as NSW bushfires communities assess damage – 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 updatesScott 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
The Asthma Council wants the government to change - and standardise the way we measure air quality, and invest in real-time reporting, given the hazardous air conditions across the country:
The Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Cassandra Goldie, has asked the government to increase the individual disaster recovery payments. From her statement:
Acoss has also established a ‘how to help’ guide, you’ll find here.
Lizzo is in Australia and has put herself to work helping volunteers in Victoria:
“I am just stunned and I would ask them to reconsider – there is a time for protests, and it is not this Friday,” says Lisa Neville to protesters who plan to continue their climate protest on Friday.
Neville says it is not about the issue, but because police are already stretched across fire-ravaged communities, and the state needs them to keep doing that and not be called back to Melbourne to monitor the protest.
Andrew Crisp says authorities are also worried about new fires, with thunderstorms expected, which can also bring lightning risks.
Matt Kavanagh was killed while working on preventing new fires from starting.
On the day he died, he had extinguished seven unattended camp fires, preventing other blazes from taking hold.
Across the other states:Across the other states:
QUEENSLANDQUEENSLAND
* 19 bushfires across the state 19 bushfires across the state
* 2.5 million hectares burnt 2.5m hectares burnt
* 48 homes confirmed destroyed 48 homes confirmed destroyed
WESTERN AUSTRALIAWESTERN AUSTRALIA
* 32 bushfires burning in the Goldfield-Esperance region, Wheatbelt, Pilbara, Perth region and southeast 32 bushfires burning in the Goldfield-Esperance region, Wheatbelt, Pilbara, Perth region and south-east
* 1.7 million hectares burnt 1.7m hectares burnt
* One home confirmed destroyed One home confirmed destroyed
TASMANIATASMANIA
* 14 bushfires burning across the state’s north, east and south 14 bushfires burning across the state’s north, east and south
* More than 32,000 hectares burnt More than 32,000 hectares burnt
* Two homes confirmed destroyed Two homes confirmed destroyed
ACTACT
* No fires burning No fires burning
NORTHERN TERRITORYNORTHERN TERRITORY
* No bushfires burning No bushfires burning
* Five homes confirmed destroyed Five homes confirmed destroyed
Here is the situation on Wednesday afternoon, state by state Here is the situation on Wednesday afternoon, state by state:
(via AAP)(via AAP)
NSWNSW
* 20 people dead 20 people dead
* 119 fires continue to burn with up to 50 uncontained 119 fires continue to burn with up to 50 uncontained
* Almost five million hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals Almost 5m hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals
* 1687 homes confirmed destroyed, more than 3300 outbuildings and 168 facilities razed 1,687 homes confirmed destroyed, more than 3300 outbuildings and 168 facilities razed
VICTORIAVICTORIA
* Three people dead (including forest fire management firefighter, Matt Kavanagh Three people dead (including forest fire management firefighter, Matt Kavanagh)
* 12 bushfires burning in the Gippsland, northeast and alpine regions 12 bushfires burning in the Gippsland, north-east and alpine regions
* More than 1.2 million hectares burnt More than 1.2m hectares burnt
* More than 200 homes confirmed destroyed with total expected to rise More than 200 homes confirmed destroyed with total expected to rise
SOUTH AUSTRALIASOUTH AUSTRALIA
* Three people dead Three people dead
* Six fires burning on Kangaroo Island Six fires burning on Kangaroo Island
* More than 274,000 hectares burnt More than 274,000 hectares burnt
* 161 homes confirmed destroyed, along with 413 sheds and outhouses 161 homes confirmed destroyed, along with 413 sheds and outhouses
Just an update - Friday will bring the next big fire threat. Just an update – Friday will bring the next big fire threat.
If you are in a fire zone, authorities are recommending you leave now.If you are in a fire zone, authorities are recommending you leave now.
Fire behavioural analysts are coming in to help Victorian authorities predict the path of the fire, given we have seen bushfires exceed the worst case scenario modelling. Fire behavioural analysts are coming in to help Victorian authorities predict the path of the fire, given we have seen bushfires exceed the worst-case scenario modelling.
Andrew Crisp, the Victorian emergency management chief, says that Victoria has asked for more help from the US:Andrew Crisp, the Victorian emergency management chief, says that Victoria has asked for more help from the US:
Authorities are getting stronger in their messages to people at risk from the fires - they are telling people to get out ahead of Friday’s worsening conditions. Authorities are getting stronger in their messages to people at risk from the fires – they are telling people to get out ahead of Friday’s worsening conditions.
There are no mandatory evacuations as yet, but they could come. In the mean time, the advice is to go, as far ahead in advance of Friday as is possible. There are no mandatory evacuations as yet, but they could come. In the meantime, the advice is to go, as far ahead in advance of Friday as is possible.
Lisa Neville:Lisa Neville:
Lisa Neville:Lisa Neville:
Lisa Neville says the crash that claimed Matt Kavanagh, a married father of two, happened last Friday, but a police investigation has now confirmed it was a fire-related death.Lisa Neville says the crash that claimed Matt Kavanagh, a married father of two, happened last Friday, but a police investigation has now confirmed it was a fire-related death.
The CBA’s chief economist has had a look at the impact of the fires on the wider Australian community.The CBA’s chief economist has had a look at the impact of the fires on the wider Australian community.
Here are some of the take aways: Here are some of the takeaways:
What are the implications?What are the implications?
The extensive bushfires have extracted a horrible toll on lives and property. But as always Australians will bounce back. Over the past 28 years, Australia has regularly experienced bushfires, drought, floods and cyclones. Some events have weighed on economic activity. But there has also been the recovery as Australians rebuild and attempt to resume some form of normality.The extensive bushfires have extracted a horrible toll on lives and property. But as always Australians will bounce back. Over the past 28 years, Australia has regularly experienced bushfires, drought, floods and cyclones. Some events have weighed on economic activity. But there has also been the recovery as Australians rebuild and attempt to resume some form of normality.
The bushfires and drought will keep upward pressure on food prices.The bushfires and drought will keep upward pressure on food prices.
The bushfires and Eastern Australian drought are occurring at a time when consumer and business spending is restrained. So the natural disasters could have a longer-term impact. The chances of recession have lifted. So the onus is on state and federal governments to respond together with the Reserve Bank. The bushfires and eastern Australian drought are occurring at a time when consumer and business spending is restrained. So the natural disasters could have a longer-term impact. The chances of recession have lifted. So the onus is on state and federal governments to respond together with the Reserve Bank.
The Australian fires, the smoke and the drought have had significant international attention. And the natural disasters of fire and drought have had a much wider geographical impact on Australia than events in the past. As a result there could be short-to-medium term negative effects on tourism – especially as budding tourists add smoke haze to the list of factors they weigh up when deciding potential holiday destinations. The Australian fires, the smoke and the drought have had significant international attention. And the natural disasters of fire and drought have had a much wider geographical impact on Australia than events in the past. As a result there could be short- to medium-term negative effects on tourism – especially as budding tourists add smoke haze to the list of factors they weigh up when deciding potential holiday destinations.
Victoria’s emergency services minister, Lisa Neville, has confirmed the death of Matt Kavanagh.Victoria’s emergency services minister, Lisa Neville, has confirmed the death of Matt Kavanagh.
She is expected to hold a press conference very soon.She is expected to hold a press conference very soon.
Daniel Andrews mentioned this accident earlier this week:Daniel Andrews mentioned this accident earlier this week:
South Australian authorities are giving a warning to residents of Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island – it’s a pre-emptive warning, in case the fire breaks its containment lines in tomorrow’s more dangerous fire conditions.South Australian authorities are giving a warning to residents of Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island – it’s a pre-emptive warning, in case the fire breaks its containment lines in tomorrow’s more dangerous fire conditions.
The fire is not headed there now, but authorities are worried it will head there very, very quickly if the fire gets past the control lines.The fire is not headed there now, but authorities are worried it will head there very, very quickly if the fire gets past the control lines.
Just a reminder that tomorrow will bring the start of dangerous fire conditions once again.Just a reminder that tomorrow will bring the start of dangerous fire conditions once again.
We have had a brief reprieve in some areas, but temperatures in some parts are going to hit 40C again by Friday.We have had a brief reprieve in some areas, but temperatures in some parts are going to hit 40C again by Friday.
On top of that, is a return of the winds.On top of that, is a return of the winds.
It is not expected to be as bad as what was seen on New Year’s Day, but it’s not great either.It is not expected to be as bad as what was seen on New Year’s Day, but it’s not great either.
Air quality continues to be a problem across large regions of Australia:Air quality continues to be a problem across large regions of Australia: