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Catastrophic fire conditions for SA and WA today

Two states are set to be hit with catastrophic fire danger today, with residents warned prepare for the dangerous conditions.

Ben Graham, Sarah McPhee and Ally Foster
less than 2 min read
November 19, 2019 - 6:15AM
Sydney cloaked in 'hazardous' smoke as bushfires rage

Follow our live coverage of today's bushfires:

Sydney has woken up to horrendous smoke blanketing the city as a bushfire burns to the northwest. And there are more fires tipped for South Australia, Queensland and large parts of NSW. 

Updates

Catastrophic fire danger forecast for two states

Catastrophic fire danger is forecast across Western Australia and South Australia tomorrow.

The South Interior region of WA is being wanted to expect a catastrophic fire danger rating tomorrow.

A severe fire danger is forecast for the East Pilbara Inland, Goldfields and North Interior.

Very hot and dry conditions are in store tomorrow, with gusterly easterly winds over the inland Pilbara and north Interior.

These will head in a north to northwesterly direction through the eastern Goldfields and South Interior.

Picture: Emergency WA

In SA those catastrophic conditions will be in place for the West Coast, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

An extreme fire danger is expected for Flinders and Lower South East.

Conditions will be very hot and dry tomorrow with winds possibly reaching 65km/h at times in the central and western areas of the state.

A cooler and gusty southerly change will then move across the west in the late afternoon and evening.

Total fire bans have been declared for the following districts:

  • Northwest Pastoral
  • Northeast Pastoral
  • West Coast
  • Eastern Eyre Peninsula
  • Lower Eyre Peninsula
  • Flinders
  • Mid North
  • Mount Lofty Ranges
  • Adelaide Metropolitan
  • Yorke Peninsula
  • Kangaroo Island
  • Riverland
  • Murraylands
  • Upper South East
  • Lower South East

Another smoky day forecast for Sydney

Thick smoke from bushfires is likely to blanket Sydney for at least another day as almost 50 blazes continue to burn across NSW, two of which have now been upgraded to “emergency warnings” as conditions deteriorate.

The Myall Creek Road bushfire in northern NSW was elevated to an emergency warning on Tuesday afternoon after it came within a couple of kilometres of Whiporie, threatening the village.

“(The fire) is moving fast through pine plantation. If you’re in the Whiporie area seek shelter … it is too late to leave,” The Rural Fire Service tweeted.

The 144,000-hectare bushfire at Gospers Mountain was also upgraded to an emergency warning just before 8pm after it picked up “dramatically” and began to “flare and run”.

The Gospers Mountain fire has sent smoke over Sydney, and the Bureau of Meteorology says the haze is likely to be repeated on Wednesday.

The smoke could clear overnight but “the conditions are really there for that sort of thing to return”, the bureau’s NSW regional manager Ann Farrell told reporters.

“We really aren’t going to be out of the woods for the coming days with that air quality issue from smoke over the eastern part of the state.”

Air quality was hazardous on Tuesday afternoon in Sydney’s east and northwest, as well as on the Central Coast, the Northern Tablelands and northwest slopes.

People with asthma or other breathing issues were advised to stay indoors, avoid outdoor exercise and seek medical advice as needed.

-AAP

Second fire upgraded to Emergency level

Another fire, this one burning in NSW's Hawkesbury region, has been upgraded to Emergency level.

The fire at Gospers Mountain has burnt through more than 143,800 hectares and is out of control.

Fire activity is increasing around Colo Heights where firefighters are working to protect properties.

People in Colo Heights have been told to seek shelter as it is "too late to leave".

A southerly change is expected to cross the fire ground over the coming hour, this may increase fire activity and see the fire burn in a more northerly direction towards Putty Valley and Yengo Drive.

Fires could join up in coming days

A map has shown the massive amount of fires burning across NSW, with firefighters warning some of the blazes could join up in the coming days.

"This is the MASSIVE task facing firefighters and the community across northern NSW," NSW RFS said.

"Some of these fires are expected to join in coming days. All up, there's more than 6000km of fire edge to deal with – the equivalent of flying from Sydney to Perth… and back again."

Footage of an out of control fire burning near Sydney has further shown the tough conditions facing firefighters.

The blaze at Gospers Mountain has already burnt through more than 143,800 hectares and isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

The fire is burning in the Wollemi and Yengo National Parks, and Parr State Recreation areas, with activity increasing on the western side of the blaze towards Colo Heights.

Crews are working to protect homes as it continues to spread through the bushland.

"Very difficult conditions for firefighters and residents at the Gospers Mountain fire in the Hawkesbury," the NSW RFS said.

"Firefighters and aircraft are working in the area to protect homes and slow the spread of the fire."

'Heatwave conditions' will also impact Qld

Firefighters are bracing for heatwave conditions across Queensland’s fire zones, sending temperatures and the danger level soaring.

The mercury is expected to reach the mid to high 30s near some of the major fires on Wednesday, while parts of the state’s interior are expected to hit 40C.

Seventy-four fires are burning across Queensland in the second week of the state’s bushfire crisis, which has burnt out 174,000 hectares.

In total, 16 homes have been lost in the recent fires but that figure will rise after firefighters confirmed homes were lost in the Pechey fire north of Toowoomba.

– AAP

Catastrophic conditions in SA, more than 100 schools closed

Catastrophic fire danger conditions have been declared for much of South Australia for Wednesday, with more than 100 schools closed and at-risk residents told to leave their homes.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a maximum 42C for Adelaide, while the mercury is expected to reach 45C at Murray Bridge, 44C at Renmark, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln and Whyalla, and 43C at Port Pirie.

Seven districts were declared catastrophic fire danger zones on Wednesday – including the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North near Adelaide – while two were rated ‘extreme’ and six ‘severe’.

In regions affected by catastrophic danger, national parks and reserves will be closed as well as schools with R1 or R2 bushfire risk ratings.

The Country Fire Service advised people living near bushland in catastrophic fire ban districts to leave late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.

They warned a bushfire could not be controlled in such conditions. A total fire ban will be in place across the state.

Bureau of Meteorology acting supervising meteorologist Paul Lainio said several November heat records could fall on Wednesday.

“Wednesday’s forecast for Adelaide at this stage is 42C, just shy of West Terrace’s hottest November day in 1962 on November 30 of 42.7C,” he said.

“Across South Australia, temperatures on Wednesday will peak 8-18C above average ahead of a cold front that’s accompanied with strong winds.

“Those towns that may break temperature records are in the south and west of the state and include Victor Harbor, Nuriootpa, Keith, Naracoorte, Murray Bridge and Robe and Lameroo.”

The SES has urged people to drink plenty of water and to avoid the heat of the day by going out first thing in the morning or much later on.

– AAP

Emergency as fire spreads through pine plantations

A bushfire in the NSW Northern Rivers region has been upgraded to the highest alert level of "emergency".

At 5.37pm on Tuesday, the NSW Rural Fire Service said the Myall Creek Rd fire was burning out of control near Bungawalbin, New Italy, The Gap and Whiporie.

"If you're in the area of Whiporie, seek shelter as the fire front arrives," the RFS said.

"Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. It is too late to leave."

The fire is spreading quickly through pine plantations.

For further advice, see the major fire update from RFS here.

Two Large Air Tankers have been deployed and crews are working with firefighters and other aircraft to protect homes.

Qld govt denies youth arson laws need tightening

A total of 136 children have been charged in Queensland with endangering property by lighting fires in the past two years, and only 18 were convicted, The Courier Mail reports.

However, the state government has denied the laws need tightening.

Emergency services minister Craig Crawford said he was "very happy" with the way they are now, Seven News reports.

"It's about making sure children accept what they've done is wrong," he said.

Craig Crawford. Picture: David Anthony

Mr Crawford said around 80 per cent of young people who go through a program known as youth conferencing do not reoffend.

He reportedly dismissed calls for juvenile offenders to be confronted by victims and firefighters about the consequences of their behaviour as that occurs within the program.

A 16-year-old boy was last week accused of starting a bushfire that destroyed 14 homes in Cobraball near Yeppoon in central Queensland.

He was dealt with under the state's Youth Justice Act, police said.

– with AAP

Five fires across NSW at "watch and act" level

Two more fires have been upgraded in NSW to "watch and act" alert level, bringing the total to five.

Fire activity has increased statewide as a result of hot and windy conditions throughout the day.

The Carrai East and Rumba Complex bushfires were upgraded on Tuesday afternoon.

WATCH AND ACT FIRES AT 5PM ON TUESDAY

  • Gospers Mountain, Hawkesbury – 143,000 hectares
  • Carrai East, inland from Kempsey – 108,000 hectares
  • Rumba Complex on the Mid Coast – 80,000 hectares
  • Myall Creek Rd, Bora Ridge – 23,000 hectares
  • Guyra Rd, Ebor east of Armidale – 15,500 hectares

Victorian firefighters thanked by U2 frontman

Dozens of firefighters from Victoria heading to NSW to help with the bushfire battle may have found what they were looking for today, crossing paths with U2 at Melbourne Airport.

Chief Officer Steve Warrington said the band’s plane was parked next to the military aircraft which was preparing to take CFA crews to Richmond Airport in NSW.

Picture: CFA

“They heard our crews were here and they sought us out to thank us for our contribution and assistance during the NSW bushfires,” he said.

The Country Fire Authority couldn't pass up an opportunity for wordplay, labelling the interaction the "Sweetest Thing" on a "Beautiful Day".

Frontman Bono told the 130 firefighters: "We know we're not next to people like you, who really do the real stuff, and we really appreciate it.

"So that's what we want to say, it wasn't just being, you know, nice.

"We really wanted to say it, we really meant it, thanks for keeping people safe, thanks a lot."

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/sydney-totally-covered-in-smoke-as-bushfires-continue-to-cause-chaos-in-nsw-and-queensland/live-coverage/77e0e408a8550023ee9c26c10152ff41