Australian bushfires: Royal commission outlined, third looter charged in NSW
Victoria mourns fourth fire-related fatality as Kangaroo Island’s livestock losses reach tens of thousands, while destroyed NSW homes top 2100.
- Police arrest third looter
- ‘PMs are flesh, blood too’
- Good samaritans save horses
- Fourth Vic firefighter dies
The death toll from Victoria’s bushfire crisis has risen to four after a firefighter died battling a blaze in the state’s alpine region. Amid easing bushfire conditions across NSW and Victoria, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a $76 million mental health package for fire-affected communities.
7.29pm: Wildlife helped by sweet potato, carrot drop
A lack of food and habitats for native animals is concerning wildlife authorities across Australia’s bushfire-ravaged southeast.
In New South Wales, thousands of kilograms of carrots and sweet potatoes are being dropped by planes in fire-affected areas to help wallabies. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said initial fire assessments indicate the habitats of several important brush-tailed wallaby populations were burnt in the recent bushfires.
“The provision of supplementary food is one of the key strategies we are deploying to promote the survival and recovery of endangered species,” he said. In bushfire-ravaged parts of Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning units are treating bushfire-stricken animals. RSPCA Victoria has deployed a mobile animal care unit to Bairnsdale to care for injured wildlife, including animals evacuated from the stranded town of Mallacoota.
Volunteer organisation Wildlife Victoria has called for people to donate to sanctuaries and wildlife carers across the state, and urged residents living near bushfire zones to help native animals survive.
“If you’re a little further from the bushfire zone, you can help by putting food out for birds,” Wildlife Victoria said on its website.
“But it’s vital that you do your research first on what native birds should be eating or you could be doing more harm than good (hint: never bread).” Meanwhile, a burnt animal sanctuary has been converted into a wildlife refuge that survived the blazes on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. RSPCA wildlife rescuers established a treatment centre at the island’s Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary - one of the few buildings left standing in the area. “We set up a table, a drip and everything we needed to triage and sedate animals, and take a look at their wounds,” RSPCA South Australia veterinarian Dr Gayle Kothari said.
“A lot of them had burns to all four feet, so we provided pain relief and bandaged them.”
Wildlife carers inundated with native animals, due to both bushfires and the drought, say they are struggling to find places to return them to the wild. Up to 80 animals are being rescued every day in Queensland, with three times the number of koalas needing help this fire season, according to the RSPCA. RSPCA Queensland CEO Darren Maier said it’s becoming difficult to find locations to release those animals that can be nursed back to health.
“Because of the destruction of habitat there’s nowhere the release them,” Mr Maier said.
Emaciated baby animals are also being orphaned because of a lack of nutrients in foliage, says Queensland wildlife carer Madonna O’Brien.
“We’re seeing a lot of animals in stress because there’s nothing in the leaf they’re eating,” Ms O’Brien.
“Their bubs are being orphaned because the mums are flat out trying to feed themselves,” she said, adding that rescue groups need more volunteers. The Queensland government has announced $250,000 in grants for wildlife carers in the state, with Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch calling on the federal government to contribute more to the effort.
Ms Enoch said individual carers could apply for up to $2000 in funding to cover the costs of medical supplies and fuel. Funds will also be distributed across Queensland wildlife hospitals.
3.15pm: Kangaroo Island counts livestock losses
Tens of thousands of livestock and hundreds of unique bee hives have been destroyed on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.
Agriculture experts are counting the losses as fires continue to burn across the island which has already lost 210,000 hectares inside a perimeter of 500km.
As of Sunday more than 32,000 sheep losses had been reported to Primary Industries and Regions SA, along with 517 cattle, 65 alpacas and five horses. The livestock toll could still rise as animal heath officers continue to inspect and assess injured animals and more than 200 fire-damaged properties. The island’s koala population has been hard hit by the fires.
More than 800 bee hives and 115 nucleus hives have been destroyed. Kangaroo Island is home of the unique Ligurian bee, which is protected from disease by strict rules, including restrictions on products like honey and wax, hives and equipment.
Volunteers supporting the fire effort have been reminded to clean vehicles and equipment to protect the unique farming and wildlife on the island, including the valuable seed potato industry.
Australian Defence Force are co-ordinating with local authorities to help farmers dispose of and bury livestock in existing burial pits and in other work requiring heavy equipment.
A depot has opened at Cape Jervis for fodder donations and deliveries while the ADF and Livestock SA are assisting with hay transport Travel restrictions to Kangaroo Island have been lifted, but Country Fire Service incident controller Ian Tanner says non-essential travel is best postponed.
“If you do need to come here to support relatives and friends, then it’s OK to come,” he said.
“But if you don’t need to come to Kangaroo Island at this point in time, then please give us a bit longer to get this sorted.” The Australian Defence Force on Sunday confirmed its plans to expand its presence on the island.
A water purification system is generating 400,000 litres of water and there will be a further 12,000 litres of drinking water for locals.
Chief of joint operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said two heavy-lift chinook helicopters will arrive on the island on Monday.
“They will operate for a couple of days to provide additional reach to enable us to provide supplies in the remoter parts of the island, principally delivering fodder and other supplies.”
3.15pm: Mental health priority in fire recovery
If past bushfires are anything to go by, the mental health impact of the current emergency could be felt for up to five years.
That’s the view of National Mental Health Commission chief Christine Morgan who on Sunday welcomed the federal government’s announcement of $76 million for mental health support.
“This is a particularly distressing time for everyone across the country,” she said.
“We know that the impacts of natural disasters extend beyond the end of emergency, with mental health impacts of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires being felt up to five years post-disaster for some people.
“Because of this, it is important that the mental health and wellbeing of Australians is supported immediately, as well as providing ongoing long-term interventions.” She said the three main concerns were anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder for those on the bushfire frontline.
Today the Government announced a $76 million investment to support the #mentalhealth and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, including first responders, who have been affected by the #AustralianBushfires.
— National Mental Health Commission (@NMHC) January 11, 2020
Find out more here 👉 https://t.co/T9EDVJzAl7 pic.twitter.com/sIAPBVnhWg
People impacted by the bushfires would require three types of support, which would be funded under the plan, she said.
Psychological “first aid” would help people deal with their immediate need for security and safety, to have strategies to cope, and to enable them to start to regain a sense of control.
Secondly, psychological support services would be available on through Medicare. And thirdly communities would be supported to run activities to help mental health and healing post-bushfires.
Ms Morgan said the bushfires were having a ripple effect across communities and the nation.
“In remarkably distressing times like this, we should expect to feel different,” Ms Morgan said.
“If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or sad please reach out for support. It is really important to talk and connect with others.” Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
2.50pm: Federal action on bushfires
* 2700 Army reservists have been deployed
* $42 million paid to local councils
* $40 million paid in disaster assistance to 30,000 Australians
* Tax and welfare compliance measures have been waived in bushfire areas
* Review process in place if welfare payment problems arise
* Small business roundtable meeting to be held on Tuesday
* Roundtables to be held on tourism, agriculture, science and the environment, with peak groups involved in the bushfire recovery to meet on Friday
* $76 million mental health plan to deal with anxiety, depression and post- traumatic stress disorder
* Disaster agency boss Andrew Colvin is liaising with all federal department chiefs
2.20pm: PM outlines bushfires inquiry
A royal commission into Australia’s devastating bushfires will look at the impact of climate change, the operational response at a state and local level and the role of the federal government.
The latest plank in the federal response is a $76 million mental health plan to provide support to firefighters and residents in affected communities, but more announcements are expected in coming weeks including a royal commission and further support for small business.
These terrible bushfires have taken a traumatic emotional toll on our people. That’s why today we’re putting an initial $76 million into immediately providing more mental health support services to firefighters, emergency personnel, and others impacted by the ongoing disaster.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 12, 2020
This money will fund free counselling sessions, extra Medicare and tele-health consultations, an expansion of headspace services for young Australians, and community recovery initiatives.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 12, 2020
As Australians are now demanding a greater response from the federal government than had been provided in the past, meeting this new expectation could require federal legislation and new agreements with state and territory governments.
The prime minister said calling out 3000 defence reservists to help with the bushfires and instructing the defence force chief to act regardless of any request from the states had taken the federal government into “extreme constitutional territory”, which required clarification and discussion with the premiers.
Consideration would also be given to laws enabling a “federal state of emergency” to be declared - something that does not exist at present but would likely require a referral of powers from the states and territories. As well, details of a royal commission would be put to the premiers and federal cabinet in coming weeks, he said.
“I think Australians have a very reasonable expectation that any commission of inquiry, royal commission, would need to cover the full gamut of issues.” Facing criticism that federal authorities sat on their hands earlier in the bushfire season, Mr Morrison said his government had acted on all recommendations put to it.
He said the government’s climate policy would continue to “evolve”, including its emissions target, and adaptation and resilience measures. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the bushfires clearly required national leadership.
“Bushfires do not recognise state and territory boundaries,” he told reporters in Hobart.
Fire doesn’t recognise borders. In Tassie with @JulieCollinsMP and @bec_white to reiterate Labor’s call for state and territory leaders to come together to coordinate a true national response to the longer and more intense bushfire seasons we’re seeing. pic.twitter.com/tABNMBnoej
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 12, 2020
Mr Albanese supported the idea of climate policy being included in the royal commission, but called on Mr Morrison to ensure the inquiry was not used to delay action.
Meanwhile, the Australian Council of Social Service welcomed the mental health spending but urged the government to boost disaster recovery payments and allowances and review the affordability of insurance.
“As extreme weather events increase in Australia, insurance premiums are escalating and too many people, particularly people on low incomes, find themselves underinsured or not insured,” ACOSS chief Cassandra Goldie said.
1.30pm: Support program for fire affected communities
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Bushfire Recovery Victoria chairman Ken Lay have visited the coastal town of orbost to announce a $14.4 million program linking fire affected communities with free support programs including mental health and financial counselling.
“To all those people who are doing it tough, please don’t try to soldier on on your own,” Mr Lay said, urging people to contact case workers. Mr Andrews said recovery will take time but a dedicated support person could help make the process easier.
Support co-ordinators will be a single point of contact for those who need it, working with local residents to link them directly with vital support – such as information and advice, mental health support or financial counselling.
They will also help with practical things like filling out paperwork, accessing grants and financial claims, and navigating all the services available through the local council, state and commonwealth governments. The program will immediately be available for people in fire affected areas in Gippsland and North East Victoria also includes support for people who may have been impacted by the bushfires in these areas but live in other parts of Victoria.
12.20pm: Destroyed NSW homes tops 2100
The number of destroyed homes in the state has been revised upwards to 2136.
The Adaminaby Complex fire and western side of the Badja Forest complex were among three NSW blazes at watch-and-act level late on Saturday night, but all fires on Sunday morning were at “advice” level.
Of the 123 fires burning across NSW, 50 remain uncontrolled.
RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers, meanwhile, confirmed on Sunday that 2136 NSW homes have been destroyed this fire season.
More than 1200 of those homes have burned down since New Year’s Eve.
A visitor “leave zone” still remains in the Adaminaby area but those on the south coast are welcoming back holiday-makers.
“Instead of Bali, think Berrara, Nowra instead of Noumea, Huskisson over Hawaii,” South Coast state MP Shelley Hancock said.
SOUTH COAST OPEN FOR BUSINESS After assessments today, it has been decided that visitors may now return to areas of the Shoalhaven & South Coast.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 11, 2020
People wishing to take advantage of the tourist areas are advised to contact their destination before setting off. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/4VhRXJibBt
Significant amounts of fire remained in the area but the risk had eased and many villages and towns were now safe to visit, the RFS said.
Areas heavily impacted by the fires remain accessible to local residents only, while many waterways are still unsafe due to ash, debris and runoff. The Catholic Church, meanwhile, held a special service on Sunday for bushfire and drought victims at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said many Australian priests had flocked to the south coast to assist or were serving as army reservists.
“Behind such frightening (bushfire toll) figures are many individual stories of hope and courage,” the archbishop told the congregation.
Tessa Akerman 11.10am: Tributes flow in for veteran firefighter
A Victorian firefighter killed battling a blaze in East Gippsland was a father of two who had recently received a commendation for 40 years of service.
Bill Slade, 60, was killed by a falling tree near Omeo on Saturday, taking the Victorian bushfire death toll to four.
Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said Mr Slade was a long serving member of Parks Victoria.
“This is a significant loss for the Forest Fire Management Victoria family and the Victorian community as a whole,” he said.
Update: This is 60 yo Bill Slade, the veteran @FFMVic firefighter killed while consolidating the fire edge in Anglers Rest last night. The married father of two from Wonthaggi was recognised for 40 years of @ParksVictoria service in November. @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/aG2gpgMLz5
— Lana Murphy (@LanaMurphy) January 11, 2020
He said Mr Slade had been working as a member of a taskforce to consolidate the fire edge when he was struck by a tree.
“Although we do have enormous experience with identifying hazardous trees there are occasions where some of these tree failures cannot be predicted.”
Mr Hardman said it was a dynamic, high-risk environment for firefighters from the organisation and from the Country Fire Authority.
“It has been a really difficult and challenging experience for everybody,” he said.
The whole of Australia holds the memory of Bill Slade in honour. Rest in Peace. Thank you for your sacrifice.#billslade #fires #australianbushfires #firies
— Eleni Lamont (@elenilamont) January 11, 2020
Parks Victoria chief executive officer Matt Jackson said Mr Slade was a much-loved colleague, friend and member of the Wonthaggi community.
“He will be sorely missed by Parks Victoria,” Mr Jackson said.
He said it was a “privilege” to present Mr Slade with his service commendation last year.
“When you have a firefighter that’s done 40 years of experience in Victoria, it was a privilege to present him with that recognition, not only for our peer group, his recognition from service to the Victorian community in conservation but to make sure that his legacy will go on,” Mr Jackson said.
“Having that formalised and recognised most recently as a month ago, whilst there’s a tragedy we can also honour such a great career and proactive approach and expertise that Bill provided so I was delighted and honoured to do that.”
Mr Jackson said Mr Slade had been a mentor to many and instrumental in the fox eradication program on Phillip Island.
“Multiple teams, multiple regions that staff are deployed right across the state in emergencies, Bill would have been in many of those including the Ash Wednesday fires in the 1980s so quite an outstanding career and very experienced firefighter,” Mr Jackson said.
10.20am: Police promise to stamp out looting
A third person has been charged over an alleged NSW south coast looting incident in which a fire-damaged business was twice robbed for electrical goods.
Electrical items were seized on Friday afternoon after two homes were raided following reports of looting during the bushfire crisis, NSW Police said. A 38-year-old man was arrested in Tilba Tilba and a 31-year-old woman was arrested in Narooma later on Friday evening.
Police said the pair twice broke into a fire-damaged business in Batemans Bay on January 8 to steal electrical goods.
A third man was on Saturday afternoon was stopped in a Mazda sedan in Batemans Bay and police allegedly found mobile phones inside the car. They allege the phones were stolen from the electrical goods business.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the “full force of the law†will be thrown at those found to be looting NSW firegrounds.https://t.co/LyyKaL5LxR
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 11, 2020
The 26-year-old, who was a passenger in the car, was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property.
He was refused bail to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court later today. The 38-year-old man has been charged with larceny, entering a building to commit an indictable offence and possessing a prohibited drug.
The 31-year-old woman has been charged with larceny and entering a building to commit an indictable offence.
They were both scheduled to appear before court on Saturday. NSW Police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys said hundreds of officers were deployed on the NSW south coast to stamp out looting in the wake of the bushfires.
“If people want to steal, if people want to skulk around in the fire grounds and get up to mischief, we have a visible police presence and we have police in plain clothes and we have aircraft in the air that are looking over these grounds,” he told reporters.
AAP
8.45am: ‘Prime Ministers are flesh and blood too’
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has acknowledged that the Federal Government may need to take a more direct involvement in national disasters in the wake of Australia’s devastating bushfire emergency.
Speaking to the ABC’s David Speers this morning, Mr Morrison said while bushfire responses from state agencies had been “amazing”, there was now an expectation from the public that the Federal Government take on a more prominent role.
“This has created, I think, an environment where the people for the first time, I think, arguably, have wanted to see a more direct involvement of the Federal Government in responding to these national disasters,” Mr Morrison said.
.@InsidersABC host @David_Speers interviews the Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP #auspol https://t.co/BKorVKta3n
— ABC News (@abcnews) January 11, 2020
“That’s relatively new and you could argue it was new and that was not something that recommended going into this fire season ... that there be any change to the Federal Government’s direct role in responding to a national disaster.
“But I will happily concede that having gone through these recent weeks, that I think there is a very new appetite, a very new expectation for that to occur.”
"There is obviously a need for a national review of the [bushfire] response… it must be done in consultation with the states & territories. Australians have a reasonable expectation that any commission of inquiry would cover the full gambit of issues.,†@ScottMorrisonMP #auspol
— ABC News (@abcnews) January 11, 2020
With climate protesters holding “Sack ScoMo” rallies in major cities last week, Mr Morrison admitted he personally could have responded better to the crisis.
“95% of the responses I’ve had in this case have been very positive and very appreciative but, David, these are sensitive, emotional environments. Prime ministers are flesh and blood too in how they engage with these people,” he said.
“When I went there I went there in good faith, with Jenny on occasions, to provide what consolation I could. They’re very strained environments and I think we need to think a little harder about how we do those. We’ve had many, I think, very effective visits that have been away from the cameras as well.
“That enables people to engage with you. You would do things differently and learn from every event but the important thing is the actions we have taken and the actions we are now taking.”
7.45am: Good samaritans come to horses’ rescue
Matt and Jackie Peterson couldn’t bear the thought of horses in northeast Victoria dying in bushfires.
So the expert horse transporters and their employee Steph Gray gave up a week of their time and their resources to move hundreds of the animals out of harm’s way.
The mission began with the Petersons offering via their business’s Facebook page to evacuate horses for free using trucks based in Wangaratta. The couple, who run M & J Peterson Horse Transport, have offered such free evacuations in past bushfire seasons.
Previously, about 60 people have taken advantage of their two trucks, which can move nine and 10 horses respectively.
This time they were particularly eager to get the word out after horses died in fire-hit towns such as Mallacoota and Cobargo.
The Petersons’ trucks were in Queensland when the blazes in those areas intensified on New Year’s Eve.
“We didn’t want the same thing to happen here that happened on the south coast, because there was nobody there who could transport those multiple numbers (of horses) to get them out, that was the issue,” Mr Peterson said. “And the fact that it flared up so fast, people had little warning.”
The couple’s Facebook post spread far and wide, accumulating more than 26,000 shares and 2.7 million views since they published it on January 4. They were inundated with requests for pick-ups and decided to prioritise horses that were most at risk, taking many of their evacuees to the Wangaratta Livestock Exchange.
The couple and Ms Gray worked as late as 3.30am and sometimes received permission from authorities to go through road blocks to reach specific farms. Some of the horses they loaded — primarily between Wangaratta and Bright to the southeast, but at times in East Gippsland — had never before been transported. Among the pick-ups was a mare and foal they spotted on the side of the road with a man, who had initially decided not to send them off.
“He was just so relieved to get them on,” Ms Peterson said.
The trio had picked up 324 horses by Friday night, when hot temperatures and strong winds threatened to send bushfire embers to towns along the Great Alpine Rd.
The threat didn’t materialise thanks to a favourable wind direction and some rain.
Ms Gray has gone without pay for the week of pick-ups, in which the Petersons have spent about $8000 on fuel and left their five children with a nanny in what was meant to be their first week of holidays as a family in more than a year. They have offered to take horses home for $50, as opposed to their usual $220 charge, but expect many owners will now have the time to bring the animals back on their own two-horse floats.
AAP
6.30am: PM announces $76m mental health package
Firefighters and residents in fire-affected communities will be able to access more free psychological counselling as part of a new $76 million mental health package.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package would ensure communities could address the traumatic emotional toll the “unprecedented” bushfires have had on people.
“We need to ensure the trauma and mental health needs of our people are supported in a way like we never have before,” he said in a statement.
Free counselling sessions will be available through recovery centres and Service Australia sites to address short-term trauma.
Youth-focused Headspace will get $7.4m to boost services in 12 fire-ravaged regions and to speed-up the construction of its Batemans Bay centre. Firefighters and other emergency personnel will be able to access more intensive support through better-funded specialist organisations.
Looking further ahead, almost $30m will go to boosting telehealth services and doubling the number of free psychological therapy sessions bushfire-affected people can access through Medicare. People trying to access those services will not require a mental health plan from a GP or a diagnosed illness. Developing a mental health framework to allow federal and state governments to better respond to national disasters will cost $500,000.
State governments have been providing disaster welfare services including counselling in evacuation centres throughout the crisis.
The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine dubbed the bushfires “a national public health crisis” on Saturday, saying mental health was among the longer-term health risks to communities.
For assistance, phone Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or visit kidshelpline.com.au or www.headtohealth.gov.au.
AAP
6.15am: Firey dies fighting Victorian bushfire
The Victorian bushfire death toll has risen to four after a firefighter died battling a blaze in the state’s alpine region.
The Forest Fire Management Victoria firefighter from Parks Victoria was killed while battling a blaze in the Omeo area on Saturday, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed.
“Family and fellow emergency personnel are being informed and will be supported,” Forest Fires Management Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said in a statement.
“The safety and wellbeing of our people is our highest priority.”
The firefighter’s death will be investigated by Victoria Police, who will prepare a report for the coroner.
It comes after another Forest Fires Management worker Mat Kavanagh, 43, died on duty when his vehicle crashed on the Goulburn Valley Highway on January 3. Mick Roberts from Buchan and Maramingo Creek man Fred Becker were also killed in the fires at East Gippsland on New Year’s Day.
While bushfire conditions have eased, Mr Crisp warned there was a “long way to go” before the state’s fire season was over.
“It is great to have some respite now, so we can reset and refocus in terms of our operational activities and what we can do to support community, but we will have more hot weather,” he said.
“We are planning through until the end of March.”
WATCH & ACT for Biggara, Bringenbrong, Corryong, Cudgewa, Guys Forest, Pine Mountain, Thowgla, Thowgla Valley, Tintaldra, Towong, Towong Upper, Walwa. https://t.co/j1DnZ4HrW3 pic.twitter.com/Z9poUEkaEW
— CFA Updates (@CFA_Updates) January 11, 2020
Cooler temperatures and rainfall eased conditions on Saturday after Friday’s strong south-westerly whipped up fires in the alpine and East Gippsland regions. While an emergency warning remains in place for a fire near Mount Hotham, the state of disaster declared for the regions has ended.
Milder conditions are forecast for the next week to 10 days, meaning attention can turn to getting the upper hand on the more than 20 fires still burning.
More than 1.3 million hectares have been razed since November 21, while 286 homes and 400 other buildings have been damaged.
AAP
6am: Clean up, containment the priority in NSW
Mopping up, patrols and larger containment lines will be the name of the game for more than 3000 firefighters in NSW amid cooler conditions. As the South Coast welcomes back tourists, firefighters will be using a week of cool and damper conditions to finally make substantial headway on a host of serious blazes.
The Adaminaby Complex fire and western side of the Badja Forest complex were among three NSW blazes at watch-and-act level late on Saturday night. Fifty of the 120-odd fires statewide were uncontrolled.
Large parts of the state will experience low-to-moderate fire danger on Sunday. The only NSW fire district with a ‘very high’ fire danger rating on Sunday will be the north western. Six districts on or west of the Diving Range have ‘high’ fire danger.
“There’s been quite an increase in fire activity in the past 24 hours and the calming conditions will give us the opportunity to slow and control these fires,” NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Greg Allan said, adding 3200 personnel were in the field.
Temperatures in the Snowy Mountains and South Coast regions will be in the low to mid-20s on Sunday and may reach the low 30s by Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
At 12:30am, 123 fires are burning across NSW, with 50 not yet contained. Easing conditions and continuous hard work by firefighters has seen all fires now at the Advice alert level. Remain vigilant if near active fires and know what you'll do if the situation changes. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/dBGNA7Ye5E
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 11, 2020
The southern slopes will be slightly warmer — reaching the high 30s on Tuesday. But duty forecaster Rebecca Kamitakahara said fire danger wouldn’t be too elevated as the warmth wouldn’t be joined by strong winds.
Another front containing more moisture would pass over the southeast late in the week, bringing possible showers and thunderstorms, she said.
“That midweek period across southern slopes looks like it’ll be the peak of the fire danger this week,” she said.
The passage of a cold front through the south east of the country has brought a drop in temperatures and a moderation of Fire Danger Ratings in New South Wales. Rainfall has been generally light with the passage of the change. pic.twitter.com/BiUpFW3Kuj
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 11, 2020
A visitor ‘leave zone’ still remains in the Adaminaby area but those on the coast are welcoming back holiday-makers.
Significant amounts of fire remained in the area but the risk had eased and many villages and towns were now safe to visit, the RFS said.
Areas heavily impacted by the fires remain accessible to local residents only while many waterways are still unsafe due to ash, debris and run-off.
Some 1163 homes, 144 classrooms and other facilities and 2179 sheds and other outbuildings have been destroyed since New Year’s Eve.
Since July, nearly 3000 homes, 390 facilities and 5900 outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed. Almost 25,000 buildings have been saved.
AAP
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