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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jan/09/nsw-fires-live-updates-victoria-bushfires-south-australia-fire-sa-australian-bushfire-near-me-rfs-cfa-latest-news-thursday
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| 'If you are told to leave, leave,' Daniel Andrews warns – as it happened | 'If you are told to leave, leave,' Daniel Andrews warns – as it happened |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| This blog is now closed. | |
| I’m closing off the blog for the night. We’ll have another one tomorrow, when the risk rises again for fires, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. | I’m closing off the blog for the night. We’ll have another one tomorrow, when the risk rises again for fires, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. |
| So before we start, anyone in fire-prone areas should stay across their local warnings, follow instructions, and stay safe. | So before we start, anyone in fire-prone areas should stay across their local warnings, follow instructions, and stay safe. |
| As the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said earlier today: “If you receive instructions to leave, then you must leave. If it is safe to get out, and if you receive an instruction – a text message – then you must get out. That is the only way to guarantee your safety.” | As the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said earlier today: “If you receive instructions to leave, then you must leave. If it is safe to get out, and if you receive an instruction – a text message – then you must get out. That is the only way to guarantee your safety.” |
| Here’s the immediate fire situation. | Here’s the immediate fire situation. |
| In South Australia, there are two emergency warnings on Kangaroo Island. A fire is currently on the outskirts of the township of Parndana in the centre of the island, where evacuations are taking place. | In South Australia, there are two emergency warnings on Kangaroo Island. A fire is currently on the outskirts of the township of Parndana in the centre of the island, where evacuations are taking place. |
| An emergency warning area is covering a large section of the centre of the island, with Parndana in the middle. An emergency warning also covers the township of Vivonne Bay. Fires are moving quickly on the island. Another dangerous fire day is expected tomorrow. | An emergency warning area is covering a large section of the centre of the island, with Parndana in the middle. An emergency warning also covers the township of Vivonne Bay. Fires are moving quickly on the island. Another dangerous fire day is expected tomorrow. |
| In Victoria, people are being told to evacuate now in Bennies, Cheshunt South, Markous, Rose River, Top Crossing, Wabonga, Upper Rose River, Buffalo River, Dandongadale, Merriang South, Mount Buffalo and Nug Nug. | In Victoria, people are being told to evacuate now in Bennies, Cheshunt South, Markous, Rose River, Top Crossing, Wabonga, Upper Rose River, Buffalo River, Dandongadale, Merriang South, Mount Buffalo and Nug Nug. |
| The are also 13 watch and act warnings in place. Tomorrow will see fire risks raised across most areas, with total fire bans covering most of the north and east of the state. | The are also 13 watch and act warnings in place. Tomorrow will see fire risks raised across most areas, with total fire bans covering most of the north and east of the state. |
| In NSW, there are still lots of fires burning, but none are posing immediate risks. The NSW RFS has issued 11 regional total fire bans for tomorrow as conditions are expected to worsen. | In NSW, there are still lots of fires burning, but none are posing immediate risks. The NSW RFS has issued 11 regional total fire bans for tomorrow as conditions are expected to worsen. |
| In Western Australia, an emergency warning is in place south of Perth for parts of Baldivis, western parts of Mardella, and northern parts of Hopeland in the city of Rockingham and Serpentine-Jarrahdale shire. | In Western Australia, an emergency warning is in place south of Perth for parts of Baldivis, western parts of Mardella, and northern parts of Hopeland in the city of Rockingham and Serpentine-Jarrahdale shire. |
| Australia’s bushfires have claimed 27 lives and burned through more than 10m hectares (that’s almost 25m acres). | Australia’s bushfires have claimed 27 lives and burned through more than 10m hectares (that’s almost 25m acres). |
| Take care and be kind to each other. | Take care and be kind to each other. |
| The Australian Academy of Science has released a video summarising some of the devastating, complex and widespread impacts of the bushfire crisis on Australia’s native wildlife. | The Australian Academy of Science has released a video summarising some of the devastating, complex and widespread impacts of the bushfire crisis on Australia’s native wildlife. |
| Prof Chris Dickman, of the University of Sydney and an academy fellow, says: “For a lot of species with small populations or small geographical distributions, if the fire affects the entire habitat where they occur then they are at risk of imminent extinction. | Prof Chris Dickman, of the University of Sydney and an academy fellow, says: “For a lot of species with small populations or small geographical distributions, if the fire affects the entire habitat where they occur then they are at risk of imminent extinction. |
| Have a look at my story from a few days ago for more on this. | Have a look at my story from a few days ago for more on this. |
| The mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has been talking to reporters about the $70m donation from his Minderoo Foundation. | The mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has been talking to reporters about the $70m donation from his Minderoo Foundation. |
| And... oh dear. | 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. | 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. | 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. |