NSW bushfires: Hollywood star Russell Crowe tells fans his family are safe
As thick plumes of smoke covered his tiny hamlet on the north coast, Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe instigated a media blackout from the other side of the globe.
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As thick plumes of smoke covered his tiny hamlet on the north coast, Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe instigated a media blackout from the other side of the globe.
The 55-year-old Gladiator star told his 2.7 million Twitter followers he was wasn’t home but his family were safe.
“Fire hit my place late in the day yesterday. My heart goes out to everyone in the valley.”
Earlier, in an attempt to ascertain whether homes were under threat, The Daily Telegraph travelled to a staging ground on the highest point of Crowe’s 400-hectare property.
Lost a couple of buildings , but overall very lucky so far.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 12, 2019
Chapel roof scorched.
Deepest thanks to everyone on the ground.
Some fires still burning and we are out of water.
No livestock deaths to date.
Horses ok.
Let the chickens out and they are back, warm worms for breakfast! pic.twitter.com/kaKJ351MXC
I’m not in Australia.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 12, 2019
My family are safe, billeted with friends.
Fire hit my place late in the day yesterday.
My heart goes out to everyone in the valley. pic.twitter.com/EsLKtDQM51
Six fire trucks were perched on a high clearing to get the best view of the bushfire in the Bagawa State Forest, which yesterday afternoon was upgraded to emergency level and residents were told it was too late to leave.
The NSW Rural Fire Service accommodated accredited news media at the site, giving them access behind road blocks to keep the public informed.
But the Gladiator’s foot soldiers were more concerned about keeping his country compound out of the public glare.
Crowe’s security guards demanded The Daily Telegraph’s photographer delete any photos of fire trucks that might show glimpses of Crowe’s home.
Despite assurances there were far more pressing and life-threatening issues at stake, the security guard stayed steadfast.
Claims by a neighbour that fire trucks drove straight past her home to save the actor’s property were rubbished last night.
“Crews are dispatched on priority of jobs and the properties that need it the most, we are not aware of who owns the properties,” news.com reported a RFS spokesman as saying.
Crowe took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to encourage country singer Troy Casser-Daley to use the NSW Fire Service app.
Casser-Daley had earlier tweeted saying his mother had been evacuated to Grafton as a precaution and asked for advice on the best way to stay across the bushfires.
As of 8pm last night, the fire was 1km from Crowe’s property.