UK knitters join forces to make joey pouches, koala mittens amid bushfire crisis
Thousands of knitters across the UK are making pouches and mittens for Australia's injured wildlife as the country faces yet another week of bushfire catastrophe.
Thousands of enthusiastic knitters have come together in the United Kingdom to make blankets, pouches and mittens for wildlife injured in the bushfire crisis.
More than 23,000 people have joined the UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue effort on Facebook, asking what they can do to help.
The volunteer effort comes as Australia faces yet another week of bushfire catastrophe.
Cooler conditions and some rain in NSW and Victoria helped slow out-of-control fires on Monday, but they continue to burn and are likely to continue burning for several weeks.
More than 1.3 million hectares have been razed since November 21, while 286 homes and 400 other buildings have been damaged.
Here's how the day unfolded.
Updates
Knitters join forces for wildlife in need
Thousands of enthusiastic knitters have come together in the United Kingdom to make blankets, pouches and mittens for wildlife injured in the bushfire crisis.
More than 23,000 people have joined the UK Crafters for Australia Animal Rescue effort on Facebook, asking what they can do to help.
Volunteers have been swapping patterns for joey pouches, koala mittens and crocheted nests, with the finished products to then be donated to wildlife rescue groups across the country.
“It is hard work but it has restored my faith in humanity. I was quite cynical and jaded before, but it just goes to show there are some wonderful people out there. It shows the best of Britain,” 51-year-old Niki Cardwell, who set up the group, told The Times.
“It’s very addictive knowing that you are making something that will have a benefit,” another volunteer, 55-year-old Diane Evans-Wood, said.
Volunteer Maria Hudson with her hanging kangaroo pouches. Picture: UK Crafters for Australia
More homes lost in Kangaroo Island blaze
A further nine homes have been confirmed lost to the Kangaroo Island bushfire which continues to burn along its 120-kilometre eastern flank. The blaze is still uncontrolled with a number of flare-ups reported on Sunday and Monday and further expected over coming days.
However, no homes or lives are considered at immediate risk with warning levels maintained as a simple bushfire advice.
The latest damage assessment takes the total number of homes lost on the island to 65, with the fire also claiming two lives.
More farm buildings and cars were also confirmed destroyed on Monday.
Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Country Fire Service chief officer Mark Jones said he expected outbreaks to continue across the fire zone, particularly in the afternoons as temperatures increased, probably for the next two weeks.
“Each afternoon, as it warms up, the fires flare up and increased fire activity is noted,” he said.
“I expect that this will continue for a couple of weeks yet.”
However, Mr Jones said a forecast wind shift on Monday afternoon caused by a trough would give crews an opportunity to better tackle some of the existing areas of concern and keep the fire in check.
“This is painstaking, difficult and dangerous work,” he said.
The CFS said about 390 firefighters and 83 fire trucks were on the ground, supported by 130 farm fire units.
Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Five water-bombing aircraft were also in action, with four observation aircraft helping target their efforts.
About 400 other support personnel remained on the island, including more than 300 from the Australian Defence Force.
Mr Jones said crew rotations were continuing to ensure the wellbeing of firefighters on the island.
“We’re trying to rotate crews as much as possible, but to their credit, people keep putting their hand up and volunteering to go,” he said.
“I expressed my concerns long before this fire about fatigue to our crews. They have been fantastic.
“At this time I’m not concerned. We’ve got lots of resources on the island.
“But, of course, I’m sensitive to the demands that have been placed against these volunteers.”
-AAP
Figures reveal massive fire impact
The latest figures released by the NSW Rural Fire Service have revealed the devastating impact the bushfires have had across the state.
To date this bush fire season has seen more than 2000 homes destroyed and almost 850 others damaged.
On top of that more than 4,500 outbuildings have been destroyed in the fires, along with 218 facilities.
But the figures also show just how hard the emergency services have been working, with more than 24,000 homes and buildings saved this bushfire season.
Building Impact Assessment teams continue assessing damage to properties. This season 2,162 homes destroyed, and over 24,000 buildings saved. 1,246 homes have been lost since 1 Jan. This figure is likely to increase as teams continue to work through the area. #nswrfs#nswfirespic.twitter.com/np4rrhgwma
Australian defence forces have evacuated people from the bushfire-stranded Victorian town of Mallacoota in armoured vehicles.
Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said armoured vehicles were used to protect people from falling trees.
“The routes are by no means open,” Lt Gen Bilton told media in Canberra on Monday.
Defence was working to open the Princes Highway and other roads in the state’s Gippsland region, he said.
“It’s important to stress that it’s still unsafe to just freely move along those routes,” he said.
Picture: Picture: Department of Defence
Residents and holiday-makers in Mallacoota has been cut off from the rest of Victoria by the recent bushfires.
While the bulk have been rescued by sea, Mr Bilton said defence had used the armoured vehicles to get people back to Melbourne by road.
Mr Bilton said 100 engineers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force would arrive in the state on Monday to help firefighters with road clearing.
“We’re deeply grateful … they are going to play a key role throughout East Gippsland,” Mr Bilton said.
Singaporean defence personnel were also helping get supplies to isolated Gippsland communities by air.
-AAP
UK reporter pranked with 'drop bear'
A UK journalist reporting on the Kangaroo Island fires has fallen victim to a classic tale Aussies like to tell tourists about drop bears, a scarier and entirely made up cousin to the koala.
UK ITV News Asia correspondent Debi Edward was told by Sean Mulcahy from the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park that she would get the chance to hold a drop bear and report on the species.
A video uploaded by Mr Mulcahy shows Ms Edward putting on heavy duty, full-body protective gear in preparation for holding the infamous 'drop bear'.
"Drop bears are a close cousin of the koala but they are actually really vicious. It is sort of like a dingo and a normal domestic dog," Mr Mulcahy tells the camera as the terrified looking reporter puts on the gear.
"They are bigger, they have got longer claws but they have actually got really small fangs. The interesting thing about the fangs is that they have a mild venom. It's not like a snake venom that can make you really sick but it causes a lot of local irritation.
"The third most common injury we see in tourists in Australia is actually from drop bear attacks."
A koala posing as the drop bear was then brought out and carefully handed over to Ms Edward.
"Everybody looks very worried about this. I am trying not to be worried because I have been told he can sense if I am worried," she told the camera.
"We have been told this is quite a dangerous bear that has been known to attack people. It is called a drop bear because they drop out of the tree to attack people."
The koala then started moving around, prompting a terrified reaction from the reporter who begged for it to be taken from her.
Mr Mulcahy then took the koala off her before revealing the truth about the 'dangerous' animal.
"In times of tragedy and incessant misery, sometimes humour is the best medicine," Mr Mucahy said on Facebook.
He then asked Ms Edward's humiliation to "not be in vain" and directed people to donate to those working to help the fire affected koalas.
Hanson claims PM has given in to 'scaremongering'
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has claimed Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given into "scaremongering" around climate change and has called for both sides of the climate change debate to be heard.
Ms Hanson has said she supports a royal commission into the bushfires but said both sides of the climate debate need to be considered.
“There’s lots of varying opinions about these fires, lots of theories, misinformation and emotions, so the honest truth needs to be determined, people have the right to know full and complete information so let’s have a royal commission,” Ms Hanson said.
“Is it so-called man-made climate change that caused this series of disasters, or is it mismanagement of the land due to environment and climate change policies?
Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP
"Let’s investigate and prove what it is. I’ve got my beliefs but I’d like to know for sure, and I think plenty of other Australians would like to know too."
She said Australia is in a "disgraceful mess" and that the land has been "ill-managed" and that needs to change.
Ms Hanson also called out Mr Morrison for giving into scaremongering around the climate debate.
"There’s been lots of scaremongering on this issue, and Prime Minister Morrison seems to be rattled and is making his decisions based on that scaremongering. I want leadership based on facts," she said.
“He’s on the world stage now and he doesn’t want to feel out of step so he’s being led by the UN and Paris Agreement.
“This is no time for political manoeuvring; it’s a time to find the truth and take decisive action, as this is about the future of our country."
Fears koalas will be endangered after bushfires
Wildlife experts have been urged to fast-track their decision on whether koalas are now endangered, amid the unprecedented bushfire crisis.
A panel will also be established to create a recovery plan for the marsupial which was already considered vulnerable before bushfires destroyed key habitats in NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
“Everything that can be done to rescue and recover koala habitat will be done,” Environment Minister Sussan Ley said at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on Monday.
Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP
“Including innovative approaches that look at whether you can actually put a koala in an area that it hasn’t come from.”
More than one billion animals are thought to have perished in the fires, prompting the federal government to give wildlife and environmental groups an initial cash injection of $50 million.
The money will be evenly split with $25 million to an emergency intervention fund and $25 million for frontline environmental groups.
Australia’s threatened species commissioner Sally Box will put together the recovery panel which will meet on Wednesday.
Picture: Brad Fleet
The panel will include university experts as well as Zoos Victoria, CSIRO and state and territory representatives.
Dr Box said the panel would consider the impact the fires have had on Australia’s threatened animals, map affected areas and create a long-term plan to restore habitat.
Unburned areas will also be used to help protect animals, including by ensuring feral predators are controlled around the perimeter of properties.
-AAP
Emergency Warning for Vic fire
An Emergency Warning has been issued for a fire burning in regional Victoria.
The alert was issued for an out of control bushfire burning in Noorinbee at Cann Road Bridge North of Kate's Creek on the Monaro Highway.
The bushfire is travelling from Cann Road Bridge, north of Kate's Creek in a southerly direction towards Leslie's Track.
Residents have been warned the fire is threatening homes and lives.
"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," Vic Emergency said.
"The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave."
This EMERGENCY WARNING – BUSHFIRE is being issued for Noorinbee, Noorinbee North.
There is a bushfire at Cann Road Bridge North of Kate's Creek on the Monaro Highway that is out of control.
'Fingers crossed': Fireys hope rain prediction comes true
Rain should be falling over much of NSW and Victoria later this week, a forecast the states' exhausted fireys are crossing their fingers for.
NSW's Rural Fire Service took to Twitter earlier today to say the wet weather would be their dream come true.
If this @BOM_NSW rainfall forecast comes to fruition then this will be all of our Christmas, birthday, engagement, anniversary, wedding and graduation presents rolled into one. Fingers crossed. #NSWRFS#nswfirespic.twitter.com/R9VfD0bqu2
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has described the nation's bushfires as an "ecological disaster" as experts fear up to a billion animals have been killed.
Speaking to reporters from Kangaroo Island, Mr Frydenberg announced an initial contribution of $50 million towards "protecting our wildlife and restoring their habitat".
This has been an ecological disaster, a disaster that is still unfolding," he said.
"Some eight million hectares have been burnt and we know that our native flora and fauna have been very badly damaged. This money will importantly go to saving the lives of our wonderful and native flora and fauna and what we have seen today from Sue is a number of the koalas who have been badly burnt, just kilometres from here, are now undergoing important recovery and treatment.
"The love and the affection that is being given by these volunteers and staff here at the koala hospital is something really to be seen."
