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Australia fires live: NSW, Victoria and South Australian bushfires flare amid extreme conditions – latest updates Australia fires live: NSW, Victoria and South Australian bushfires flare amid extreme conditions – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Exhausted firefighters on Kangaroo Island continue to battle blazes while there are fears bushfires could merge in NSW and Victoria. Follow the latest news and live updatesExhausted firefighters on Kangaroo Island continue to battle blazes while there are fears bushfires could merge in NSW and Victoria. Follow the latest news and live updates
On the climate protests about to kick off in capital cities across the country, Andrews says people have the right to protest, but claims (despite Victoria Police saying otherwise) that the protest will “divert resources away from critical needs”.
He also took a kick at the former Liberal government on climate change policy.“Our government is very proud to have not just talked about climate change, but to have got on and taken real action to deal with it. That is very different to, perhaps, other governments, that have been in power in our state. We are very proud of that.”
He said the states need to be part of any federal review of the bushfire season, whether or not that takes the form of a royal commission.
Crisp reiterates: “Today is not over.”
The next four hours will be crucial.
Crisp says while people have the right to stay in their home, it does make it difficult for firefighters.
Andrews says it can be the difference between saving a home and saving a life.
Police minister Lisa Neville says in Bright and Harrietville, large containers containing satellite phones, baby formula, food, nappies and torches have been put in preparation for the possibility that those two areas could be cut off.
This is the first time a deployment of supplies has been made before fires hit those communities.
Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp is now providing more info. It’s a couple of hours before the change in weather, he said, and there are two or three hours after the change where there will be strong, squally winds.
It is expected that there will be up to 15mm rain in an area north of Bairnsdale and there could be the potential for flash flooding.
He reiterates that the fire in the Snowy region of NSW will join with the one in the alpine region of Victoria today.
“These next few hours will be very, very challenging”, Andrews says. The areas of most concern are around the fire around Mount Buffalo, the fire above Cann River, and the communities like Bruthen and Buchan.At the moment there is no one unaccounted for, no more people have died, and no more communities are cut off, but he says that can change quickly.
Here’s the latest update on Victoria from premier Daniel Andrews:Here’s the latest update on Victoria from premier Daniel Andrews:
There are 21 going fires, more than 1.3 million hectares burnt out. We have three evacuate now notices issued, seven emergency warnings and around a dozen watch and act advice in a dozen communities.There are 21 going fires, more than 1.3 million hectares burnt out. We have three evacuate now notices issued, seven emergency warnings and around a dozen watch and act advice in a dozen communities.
Even with rain and forecast better conditions next week, Andrews says that there is a long way to go and it is very early on in the fire season.Even with rain and forecast better conditions next week, Andrews says that there is a long way to go and it is very early on in the fire season.
A total of 286 residential properties have been damaged or destroyed in Victoria, and 400 outbuildings damaged or destroyed.A total of 286 residential properties have been damaged or destroyed in Victoria, and 400 outbuildings damaged or destroyed.
Here is how the rain is travelling in Victoria.Here is how the rain is travelling in Victoria.
An emergency warning has now been issued with Bright, Eurobin, Happy Valley, Kancoona South, Ovens, Porepunkah, Rosewhite and Kancoona.An emergency warning has now been issued with Bright, Eurobin, Happy Valley, Kancoona South, Ovens, Porepunkah, Rosewhite and Kancoona.
People are still advised to leave now before conditions become too dangerous.People are still advised to leave now before conditions become too dangerous.
Lots of smoke around Mount Buffalo now.Lots of smoke around Mount Buffalo now.
People in Victoria’s north east and East Gippland regions are being told they need to evacuate soon.People in Victoria’s north east and East Gippland regions are being told they need to evacuate soon.
From AAP:From AAP:
A cool change passing through the state will bring strong southwesterly winds of 70km/h to 100km/h to the regions about 7pm on Friday.A cool change passing through the state will bring strong southwesterly winds of 70km/h to 100km/h to the regions about 7pm on Friday.
People in alpine towns have been warned they can evacuate until 7.50pm, but then it will be too late to leave.People in alpine towns have been warned they can evacuate until 7.50pm, but then it will be too late to leave.
“Evacuation after this time is considered life threatening”, the VicEmergency warning reads.“Evacuation after this time is considered life threatening”, the VicEmergency warning reads.
“Shelter indoors when the fire arrives – protect yourself from the radiant heat.”“Shelter indoors when the fire arrives – protect yourself from the radiant heat.”
Six emergency alerts are in place while three evacuation alerts have been issued.Six emergency alerts are in place while three evacuation alerts have been issued.
Relief centres are set up in Bonegilla, Myrtleford and Wangaratta for evacuees.Relief centres are set up in Bonegilla, Myrtleford and Wangaratta for evacuees.
Luke Heagerty from the State Control Centre says there is a “real possibility” the fires in the region will merge with those near the NSW border.Luke Heagerty from the State Control Centre says there is a “real possibility” the fires in the region will merge with those near the NSW border.
“What we’re hoping is that with the rainfall that’s coming with this change there will be at least some moisture in the air, which we know does slow the spread of fires”, he told 3AW.“What we’re hoping is that with the rainfall that’s coming with this change there will be at least some moisture in the air, which we know does slow the spread of fires”, he told 3AW.
“So we’re hoping that bit of rainfall could at least avoid the merging of some of those fires or the spread of other fires in Victoria.”“So we’re hoping that bit of rainfall could at least avoid the merging of some of those fires or the spread of other fires in Victoria.”
Despite the expected up to 10mm of rainfall, it is “highly likely” dozens of blazes will merge, and the fires are expected to go for some weeks.Despite the expected up to 10mm of rainfall, it is “highly likely” dozens of blazes will merge, and the fires are expected to go for some weeks.
The rainfall could also create slippery conditions for firefighting vehicles.The rainfall could also create slippery conditions for firefighting vehicles.
Josh Taylor here taking over from my colleague Naaman Zhou, taking you into this evening with condition worsening.Josh Taylor here taking over from my colleague Naaman Zhou, taking you into this evening with condition worsening.
Thanks to Naaman for running the blog this afternoon.Thanks to Naaman for running the blog this afternoon.
Our data team have also updated our animated graphic of how the fires have spread – looking at specific fires all across the country.Our data team have also updated our animated graphic of how the fires have spread – looking at specific fires all across the country.
The East Ournie Creek fire (which stretches to the Victorian border) is now only 300m away from merging with the Dunns Road fire.
It is almost inevitable that many fires in the south will join, Fitzsimmons says.
There has been increased fire activity around the Tumut and Tumbarumba area, he says.
“That’s resulting in a couple of the fires continuing to join up in a number of locations. We will end up with, at the end of today and whatever happens tonight, with another complex of fires that have all joined together to create another large challenge.”
In good news, Fitzsimmons says the fires near Kosciuszko national park are not posing any threat to the ski resorts of Thredbo and Perisher.
Fires today are staying within the RFS’s predicted spread map, Fitzsimmons says, but “we still have many hours to go of these north westerlies strengthening ahead of the frontal activity”.
That new fire in the Blue Mountains is not a threat to homes, he says, and is “still a few kilometres north of the townships”.
Water bombing aircraft are up and blanketing that fire.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons and premier Gladys Berejiklian are speaking now.
They say that two new fires have sprung up – the emergency fire near Coonabarabran, and one in the Blue Mountains.
Indications are both were started by lightning strikes, Fitzsimmons says.
An update on the new emergency fire near Coonabarabran. The Newell Highway is now closed between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. The fire is moving southwest.
But the Oxley highway is still open north to south.
The message to properties nearby is to shelter in place.
These fires are about 1.3km apart.
I’ve just had a chat to a semi-retired bulldozer operator at Whorouly in northeast Victoria, where the Abbeyard fire is burning at an emergency warning level.
Doug Hamilton’s family company handles local earthmoving and fire-break contracts for Hancocks Victorian Plantation Holdings (which owns the pine plantations which flank the hills on the way to Bright) as well as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the CFA. They have about 15 bulldozers in the field building fire breaks today but Hamilton is not coordinating that.
He’s at their home and business headquarters at Whorouly, which is also under an evacuation alert, preparing it for the possible arrival of fire.
Asked how this compared to other fire seasons he had experienced in the Ovens region, he said: “I don’t recall anything so big as this, so early in the season. And this is not about to go out either, I don’t think.”
The Victorian alpine region, including the area around Mt Buffalo, burned in 2002-2003, 2006-2007 and 2009. The total area burned in Victoria so far this summer has already exceeded those fires, topping 1.2m hectares.
Hamilton again: “It’s not good. It’s not a lot of fun. I feel for everyone involved. There would be nothing like four inches of good rain right about now.”
The main Abbeyard fire is currently 60,000ha in size and spot fires have been reported at its western edge, at Whorouly South and Carboor. There’s an emergency warning current for the King Valley and Whitfield on the western edge, and Mt Hotham which is sandwiched between that and another fire.
Evacuate now warnings have been issued for three sides of the Abbeyard fire, taking in almost all of the King and Ovens River valleys.
I’ve spent the past day or so seeking some clarification around the NSW and Queensland compensation schemes for volunteer firefighters.
This week the Queensland government released details about its scheme. NSW’s is expected to be the same but they haven’t released as much detail.
The federally-funded but state-administered scheme provides for “income lost” by firefighters, capped at $300 per day, depending on what the individual earns after tax, up to a total of $6,000 per firefighter, with proof of lost income.
They must have volunteered as part of an operational response to bushfires or provided direct operational support between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020, and it doesn’t include non-emergency operations such as hazard reduction burns, or catering and brigade support.
Eligible volunteers must have experienced loss of income from being self-employed, or from being an employee of a business with annual turnover of less than $50m, and who has exhausted all paid leave entitlements (not including long service leave, annual recreational leave, or sick leave).
Casual employees can claim for lost income if they were volunteering on a day they were rostered to work.
However, the eligibility requirements released this week have caused concern. Below are clarifications or responses to those concerns.
The payments only kick in after a volunteer has spent 10 days in total on the fireground, and only pays for the loss of income in the days which follow.
A spokesman for natural disaster response minister, David Littleproud, defended the threshold.
“The 10 days volunteering is a qualifying period for the government’s reimbursement for volunteer firefighters. This is a sensible period of volunteering before being eligible for the reimbursement.”
The RFSA also defended it, saying the vast majority of volunteers are happy putting their time in and they haven’t heard many complaints about people really suffering, although a few people have said they’ll be applying to the scheme.
The compensation payments cover only the hours of work lost – for instance, someone who misses a 9am-5pm work day to fight a fire until 11pm will only be paid for eight hours’ work.
This is true, however Guardian Australia understands a volunteer would be covered for lost income if they were unable to go to work because they had been fighting fires all through the previous night and needed to sleep. There is some confusion around this, though. The Queensland scheme helpline wasn’t across the details so much, and the NSW government directed queries to Littleproud.
Self-employed farmers have also balked at the scheme, querying how they can prove lost income.
“The real problem is that, even in a good season, and we’re in the worst season this area has ever experienced, we don’t have a regular workday income,” Burnett Creek grazier Glenn Fearby told the Fassifern Guardian, which first reported the restrictions.
Guardian Australia understands this part of the scheme is still being worked on but that it is expected to use current provisions for quantifying the value of a particular farmer’s income value in a day, and it would take into account the season but not the drought.
The RFS have just issued the first emergency alert for a fire in NSW today. Multiple fires have reached emergency in Victoria already.
The fire is “spreading quickly northeast of Coonabarabran”.
“If you are in Dandry Rd, Tandarra & Galaxy Estate, you are at risk. It is too late to leave.”
Conditions will worsen across NSW as the southerly comes through. The bureau have just also issued an updated wind prediction – it will come through later than previously thought.
Temperatures in Wagga Wagga have hit 41.7C, and are at 40C in Albury, as of a few minutes ago. Fire authorities have fears today that fires in the Snowy Valley will merge soon.
In Victoria, Rutherglen near the NSW border is also at 40C. The bureau of meteorology’s observation station in nearby Corryong is unavailable due to signal losses, and the station in Combienbar, which is being evacuated, is out due to power loss.