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| Australia fires live: 'If you are told to leave, leave,' Daniel Andrews warns as Victoria, SA and NSW brace for bushfires danger – latest updates | Australia fires live: 'If you are told to leave, leave,' Daniel Andrews warns as Victoria, SA and NSW brace for bushfires danger – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Temperatures and winds set to rise as weather conditions worsen, bringing severe bushfire risk. Follow the latest news and live updates | Temperatures and winds set to rise as weather conditions worsen, bringing severe bushfire risk. Follow the latest news and live updates |
| Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has been talking to reporters about the $70 million donation from his Minderoo Foundation. | |
| And... oh dear. | |
| SBS reports that Forrest said “a large proportion of these fires have been lit by arsonists.” Our reporter Christopher Knaus has checked the facts on that. The short version is that Forrest is wrong. | |
| The BBC has also been covering a misinformation campaign that has been spreading around the false claim that the bushfire crisis is the fault of arsonists. | |
| Conditions in the township of Parndana in the centre of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, look dangerous right now. | Conditions in the township of Parndana in the centre of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, look dangerous right now. |
| People are told to leave if they can find a safe route out, or seek shelter immediately. | People are told to leave if they can find a safe route out, or seek shelter immediately. |
| There’s a large emergency warning area centred on the township. | There’s a large emergency warning area centred on the township. |
| More on the dramatic helicopter crash near Eden, NSW. | More on the dramatic helicopter crash near Eden, NSW. |
| A NSW Ambulance spokesman has told AAP that the pilot of the helicopter that ditched into Ben Boyd Reservoir at Edrom has no serious injuries. | A NSW Ambulance spokesman has told AAP that the pilot of the helicopter that ditched into Ben Boyd Reservoir at Edrom has no serious injuries. |
| Three ambulance crews and an ambulance helicopter were called to the scene. | Three ambulance crews and an ambulance helicopter were called to the scene. |
| A water bombing helicopter has ditched into a dam near the Bega Valley shire in NSW. | A water bombing helicopter has ditched into a dam near the Bega Valley shire in NSW. |
| The RFS has confirmed the pilot has escaped and an ambulance is on the way. | The RFS has confirmed the pilot has escaped and an ambulance is on the way. |
| More from the South Australian CFS media conference. The fire service says that 156,000 hectares have now been burnt on Kangaroo Island. And on Monday “650,000 litres of product were dropped on the fire ground from 182 bomber drops”. | More from the South Australian CFS media conference. The fire service says that 156,000 hectares have now been burnt on Kangaroo Island. And on Monday “650,000 litres of product were dropped on the fire ground from 182 bomber drops”. |
| Some 200 firefighters are at work on the island, and 50 non-firefighter personnel. | Some 200 firefighters are at work on the island, and 50 non-firefighter personnel. |
| One reporter asks if firefighters have enough water. | One reporter asks if firefighters have enough water. |
| “They have lots of water on the island, there is seawater all around,” authorities say. “The helicrane has been loading with saltwater from the sea. There is water there. | “They have lots of water on the island, there is seawater all around,” authorities say. “The helicrane has been loading with saltwater from the sea. There is water there. |
| “Water is not the problem, it is the intensity of the fires. Large bushfires travelling quickly don’t get extinguished by water. It is too intense. Much of the water just evaporates before they affect the fire.” | “Water is not the problem, it is the intensity of the fires. Large bushfires travelling quickly don’t get extinguished by water. It is too intense. Much of the water just evaporates before they affect the fire.” |
| Good afternoon. Graham Readfearn here taking over our live blog on the ongoing Australian bushfire crisis. Thanks to Amy Remeikis, and to Naaman Zhou who kept things going. | Good afternoon. Graham Readfearn here taking over our live blog on the ongoing Australian bushfire crisis. Thanks to Amy Remeikis, and to Naaman Zhou who kept things going. |
| Here’s a quick summary on the three emergency warnings currently on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. | Here’s a quick summary on the three emergency warnings currently on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. |
| Vivonne Bay township is under threat with residents being asked to follow the emergency warning and leave now or seek shelter if they can’t get out. | Vivonne Bay township is under threat with residents being asked to follow the emergency warning and leave now or seek shelter if they can’t get out. |
| Playford Highway, west of the Parndana township near the aquaculture ponds on McHughs Road. Anyone there is also asked to leave if they can. | Playford Highway, west of the Parndana township near the aquaculture ponds on McHughs Road. Anyone there is also asked to leave if they can. |
| Anyone near the Cygnet River catchment area, adjoining, and east of the Parndana Conservation Park near Parndana should leave if they can or seek shelter. | Anyone near the Cygnet River catchment area, adjoining, and east of the Parndana Conservation Park near Parndana should leave if they can or seek shelter. |
| South Australian fire authorities also say that tomorrow will be a dangerous day for fires. | South Australian fire authorities also say that tomorrow will be a dangerous day for fires. |
| Rain is set to fall over Kangaroo Island this evening, but “it’s unlikely that fires will be extinguished by the rain and they will continue to burn”. | Rain is set to fall over Kangaroo Island this evening, but “it’s unlikely that fires will be extinguished by the rain and they will continue to burn”. |
| “Firefighting operations will continue for some days on the island. All areas in the vicinity of the fire zones on Kangaroo Island are considered to be dangerous to people and we urge them to keep out of harm’s way and heed the warnings. | “Firefighting operations will continue for some days on the island. All areas in the vicinity of the fire zones on Kangaroo Island are considered to be dangerous to people and we urge them to keep out of harm’s way and heed the warnings. |
| “It takes a huge amount of rain to put out bushfires of this intensity and of this scale. That’s not forecasted.” | “It takes a huge amount of rain to put out bushfires of this intensity and of this scale. That’s not forecasted.” |
| Tomorrow’s weather will bring slightly higher humidity, but still strong winds. | Tomorrow’s weather will bring slightly higher humidity, but still strong winds. |
| “We anticipate difficult firefighting conditions throughout the day tomorrow as well.” | “We anticipate difficult firefighting conditions throughout the day tomorrow as well.” |
| I am going to hand you over to Graham Readfearn for the next little bit. | I am going to hand you over to Graham Readfearn for the next little bit. |
| Please follow all advice in your area. Tomorrow is looking horrendous. | Please follow all advice in your area. Tomorrow is looking horrendous. |
| Take care of you. | Take care of you. |
| Authorities moved to evacuate Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island yesterday, as a pre-emptive step. The CFS says the fires are “travelling quickly” and “what was safe this morning may not be safe this evening” and for anyone in the fire zone to consider leaving. | Authorities moved to evacuate Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island yesterday, as a pre-emptive step. The CFS says the fires are “travelling quickly” and “what was safe this morning may not be safe this evening” and for anyone in the fire zone to consider leaving. |
| Emergency warnings remain in place for Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island, Baladivis, south of Perth, and parts of East Gippsland. | Emergency warnings remain in place for Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island, Baladivis, south of Perth, and parts of East Gippsland. |
| Tomorrow’s fire conditions are expected to be dangerous – high temperatures and winds. | Tomorrow’s fire conditions are expected to be dangerous – high temperatures and winds. |
| Victorian authorities are urging residents in fire zones to leave now, ahead of the predicted fires. | Victorian authorities are urging residents in fire zones to leave now, ahead of the predicted fires. |
| Via AAP: | Via AAP: |
| An emergency warning has been issued for a bushfire that is threatening lives and homes in Baldivis, about 40km south of Perth. | An emergency warning has been issued for a bushfire that is threatening lives and homes in Baldivis, about 40km south of Perth. |
| Affected residents should leave immediately if there is a clear path, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services says. | Affected residents should leave immediately if there is a clear path, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services says. |
| The blaze is moving fast in a north-easterly direction and the Karnup Road exit of Kwinana Freeway has been closed. | The blaze is moving fast in a north-easterly direction and the Karnup Road exit of Kwinana Freeway has been closed. |
| The closure of the Eyre Highway – which has been in place since just after Christmas – is causing some food and product shortages in Western Australia. | The closure of the Eyre Highway – which has been in place since just after Christmas – is causing some food and product shortages in Western Australia. |
| The Eyre Highway is the main road freight route into the west from the eastern states but has been closed due to a bushfire near Norseman. | The Eyre Highway is the main road freight route into the west from the eastern states but has been closed due to a bushfire near Norseman. |
| The highway is closed between Norseman and the Caiguna Roadhouse, and the roads between Coolgardie and Norseman, and Norseman and Esperance, are also closed. We asked both Coles and Woolworths about how this was affecting the shelves of their supermarkets in WA. | The highway is closed between Norseman and the Caiguna Roadhouse, and the roads between Coolgardie and Norseman, and Norseman and Esperance, are also closed. We asked both Coles and Woolworths about how this was affecting the shelves of their supermarkets in WA. |
| Here’s Coles: | Here’s Coles: |
| A number of trucks carrying fresh produce for our suppliers to Coles’ Perth distribution centre have been delayed by road closures as a result of bushfire. We are diverting supplier shipments to rail where possible however availability of a small number of fresh fruit and vegetable lines have been impacted this week. | A number of trucks carrying fresh produce for our suppliers to Coles’ Perth distribution centre have been delayed by road closures as a result of bushfire. We are diverting supplier shipments to rail where possible however availability of a small number of fresh fruit and vegetable lines have been impacted this week. |
| We apologise to customers for the inconvenience and our team is working hard to ensure we can have all lines fully stocked as soon as possible. | We apologise to customers for the inconvenience and our team is working hard to ensure we can have all lines fully stocked as soon as possible. |
| And here’s Woolworths: | And here’s Woolworths: |
| We’re continuing to supply our Western Australian stores with goods from the east coast despite road closures across the Nullarbor. We have been using alternate transport options to bring in products from eastern states, including rail, air and road routes through northern Australia. | We’re continuing to supply our Western Australian stores with goods from the east coast despite road closures across the Nullarbor. We have been using alternate transport options to bring in products from eastern states, including rail, air and road routes through northern Australia. |
| While stock is getting through via these alternate means, there are some impacts to the supply of fruit and vegetable lines in WA. A large amount of our fresh fruit and vegetable range sold in our Western Australian stores is sourced within the state. | While stock is getting through via these alternate means, there are some impacts to the supply of fruit and vegetable lines in WA. A large amount of our fresh fruit and vegetable range sold in our Western Australian stores is sourced within the state. |
| We thank customers for their patience as we work around these disruptions to the road network. | We thank customers for their patience as we work around these disruptions to the road network. |
| You can track the road closures here. | You can track the road closures here. |
| The United States State Department has issued a travel caution for any of their citizens headed to Australia: | The United States State Department has issued a travel caution for any of their citizens headed to Australia: |
| Exercise increased caution in Australia due to natural disaster/bushfires. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. | Exercise increased caution in Australia due to natural disaster/bushfires. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. |
| Exercise increased caution: | Exercise increased caution: |
| The current bushfire season is one of the worst in Australia’s recorded history. Authorities are issuing regular updates on affected areas. Bushfires may continue through March or April 2020. | The current bushfire season is one of the worst in Australia’s recorded history. Authorities are issuing regular updates on affected areas. Bushfires may continue through March or April 2020. |
| Tourists should consider postponing their trip to affected areas until the danger of natural disaster has passed. Authorities may issue evacuation orders to certain areas as conditions warrant. | Tourists should consider postponing their trip to affected areas until the danger of natural disaster has passed. Authorities may issue evacuation orders to certain areas as conditions warrant. |
| Even in areas not directly affected by bushfires, smoke is causing poor air quality. Smoke can affect people’s health and it is important for everyone to reduce exposure. | Even in areas not directly affected by bushfires, smoke is causing poor air quality. Smoke can affect people’s health and it is important for everyone to reduce exposure. |
| Check the air quality for your destinations and take precautions as needed. Consider postponing your travel plans to areas where air quality is significantly affected by bushfire conditions. | Check the air quality for your destinations and take precautions as needed. Consider postponing your travel plans to areas where air quality is significantly affected by bushfire conditions. |
| State and territory emergency services in Australia provide up-to-date information on bushfires and advice on precautionary measures that can help minimize fire-related risks. US citizens visiting or living in Australia should monitor local television and radio stations, as media reporting may be the best source for breaking news on fire conditions. | State and territory emergency services in Australia provide up-to-date information on bushfires and advice on precautionary measures that can help minimize fire-related risks. US citizens visiting or living in Australia should monitor local television and radio stations, as media reporting may be the best source for breaking news on fire conditions. |
| Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. | Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. |
| Among the supplies headed to Mallacoota (via AAP): | Among the supplies headed to Mallacoota (via AAP): |
| AAP has an update on NSW south coast communities still without power after the bushfires last week: | AAP has an update on NSW south coast communities still without power after the bushfires last week: |
| Not a lot of surprises from the Coalition MP phone hook-up this afternoon. | Not a lot of surprises from the Coalition MP phone hook-up this afternoon. |
| Scott Morrison, Michael McCormack and David Littleproud provided an update on the government’s response. | Scott Morrison, Michael McCormack and David Littleproud provided an update on the government’s response. |
| They didn’t rule out establishing a royal commission once the fire emergency comes to an end (expected to be some time from now) and updated the MPs on what the government has been doing this week, including the financial commitments. | They didn’t rule out establishing a royal commission once the fire emergency comes to an end (expected to be some time from now) and updated the MPs on what the government has been doing this week, including the financial commitments. |
| South Australian fire authorities are giving an update on the Kangaroo Island fire: | South Australian fire authorities are giving an update on the Kangaroo Island fire: |
| QUEENSLAND | QUEENSLAND |
| Livingstone | Livingstone |
| Noosa | Noosa |
| Scenic Rim | Scenic Rim |
| Southern Downs | Southern Downs |
| Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast |
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA | SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
| Adelaide Hills | Adelaide Hills |
| Kangaroo Island | Kangaroo Island |
| VICTORIA | VICTORIA |
| East Gippsland | East Gippsland |
| Towong | Towong |
| This is an initial investment – more councils could be added, depending on where the rest of the fire season heads. | This is an initial investment – more councils could be added, depending on where the rest of the fire season heads. |