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Bushfires emergency: Kangaroo Island township threatened; RFS chopper crashes

Two emergency warnings have been issued for Kangaroo Island as bushfires break containment lines amid extreme conditions.

Rachel Baxendale, Yoni Bashan and Angelica Snowden
16 min read
4:49PMJanuary 09, 2020.
Updated 10:59PMJanuary 09, 2020
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Flames are threatening the Vivonne Bay township on Kangaroo Island's southern coast, where an emergency warning is in place. Picture: 7 News Adelaide
Flames are threatening the Vivonne Bay township on Kangaroo Island's southern coast, where an emergency warning is in place. Picture: 7 News Adelaide

More than 120 fires continue to burn in NSW, despite cooler conditions in the state today. In Victoria, residents in King Valley have been warned to flee as the state braces for new days of heat. And the bushfire threat on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, has escalated as an uncontrolled blaze continues to burn.

Lachlan Moffet Gray 10.57pm: How fires are expected to spread

The NSW Rural Fire Service have prepared maps showing how active fires across the state may spread on Friday when conditions are expected to deteriorate in the fact of rising temperatures and high winds.

The map of the south coast region shows enhanced fire activity, particularly in the inland areas where temperatures are expected to be higher than on the coast.

The Dunns Road fire in the Kosciuszko National Park is expected to spread the farthest with RFS media manager Ben Shepherd telling The Australian earlier today that it will be one of the main fronts in the fight against the bushfires tomorrow.

The nearby town of Cooma, usually colder than the rest of the state, is set to experience temperatures in excess of 35C.

The deleterious situation in inland NSW is further displayed in this map that shows the Green Valley Fire which killed RFS volunteer Samuel McPaul expanding to the south and to the border with Victoria, inspiring fears that it could merge with another bushfire in Victoria’s north.

The Rural Fire Service has placed total fire bans on 10 regions across the state on Friday.

Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.39pm: PM defends climate policy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged an inquiry into the causes of the bushfires, defended his government’s emissions reduction policy and derided attempts to create “deliberate polarisation” on the issue of climate change and its relation to the bushfires.

During a tense interview on the ABC’s 7.30 program, host Michael Rowland asked Mr Morrison if, in light of the disproportionate effects of the bushfires on Australia, the government might consider lifting its emissions reduction target.

Mr Morrison said that the government is meeting and beating its targets and then expressed regret over the political dialogue surrounding the bushfires.

“The unfortunate thing over the past few weeks has been the attempt to deliberately create a polarisation on this issue – there isn’t when it comes to the government,” he said.

“The government accepts the need to take action on climate change – and we are.”

Mr Morrison also stated that he accepted the link between climate change and bushfires, but Australia could do nothing on its own to modify changing weather conditions.

“It is the policy of the government to acknowledge the link between these events at a global level ... of course global changes in the environment and climate have a broader impact on the world’s weather system,” he said.

“What we have always said is that you cannot link any individual single emissions reduction policy of a country, whether it is Australia or anyone else, to any specific fire event.”

“I mean that’s just absurd, and to suggest that is the case would be simply wrong.”

To ward off future bushfire disasters, Mr Morrison said that a “proper inquiry” into the causes of the bushfire should be established.

“It needs to be comprehensive; it needs to deal with contributing factors, which is everything from hazard reduction to climate change, through to the response issues, the national coordination matters and, of course, resilience and planning for the future.

The Prime Minister also defended his government’s reaction to the bushfires and his own standing in bushfire affected communities, saying that current events are “unprecedented.”

“Well let’s just summarise the national response we’ve had – we’ve had the single biggest response - which has included the call out of the reserves, some 3000, that’s never happened before, the establishment of the national bushfire recovery agency and $2bn of initial and additional funding to support that,” he said.

“It required an unprecedented level from the Commonwealth – (because) even a week before that conditions were quite different.”

The interview also touched on the sensitive issue of the hostile reaction Mr Morrison received in some fire-affected communities, prompting the Prime Minister to note that the media is selective in what they choose to focus on.

“There are a myriad of response you get in these environments. And when you choose to take the media along they’ll focus on some elements and won’t focus on others,” he said.

“The decision I take is to turn up, to show up and if people are upset, I’ll listen to that upset.”

“If people are looking for comfort then I provide that comfort and have been pleased to do so on so many occasions.”

Earlier today Mr Morrison announced that 42 fire damaged councils will receive $1 million or more in recovery funding.

“This is initial and urgent – there will be more,” he said.

“We are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster.”

Rebecca Urban 7.03pm: Residents in Victoria told to evacuate

Concerns have escalated over increased bush fire activity in Victoria’s northeast, with authorities issuing a second evacuation order for communities in the Alpine region.

“In anticipation of fire activity tonight and into Friday, we are now evacuating from Buffalo River Valley to Back Creek Rd,” says the official warning from Emergency Management Victoria issued at 6.37pm. It applies to the townships of Buffalo River, Dandongadale, Merriang South, Mount Buffalo, Nug Nug.

The directive follows an earlier evacuation warning for Cheshunt South, Rose River and Upper Rose River.

Both warnings relate to the nearby Abbeyard fires that remain out of control and are expected to spread as conditions become hot and windy on Friday.

The warnings also follow an earlier impassioned plea from Victorian Premier Dan Andrews for people in fire-affected communities to heed evacuation messages.

“It is inconvenient, yes. But it’s much better than the alternative,” he said following a visit to the Wodonga incident control centre on Thursday afternoon.

“We don’t want to see any more people die. We don’t want to be going to any more funerals.”

The recent spate of fires have claimed three lives in Victoria.

Lachlan Moffet Gray 6.34pm: Fires threaten Kangaroo Island township

The South Australian Country Fire Service has issued two emergency warnings for Kangaroo Island as fires on the western end of the island have broken containment areas and are threatening the township of Vivonne Bay and an area surrounding Parndana in the island’s centre.

The CFS is urging residents in these areas to leave as quickly as possible or to seek shelter.

Act now. Leave, if the path is clear to a safer place, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive,” the CFS said.

“If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. Heat from the fire will kill you. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous.”

All major roads surrounding Vivonne Bay and Parndana are closed.

The CFS advised residents to evacuate Vivonne Bay last night and it is not known how many people remain in the area.

Massive fires have ravaged the west of Kangaroo Island for over a week, burning through almost 60 homes and 156,000 hectares – nearly a quarter of the island’s land mass.

The fire also claimed the lives of a father and son last weekend.

5.06pm: RFS waterbombing helicopter plunges into dam

A helicopter contracted to the RFS has plunged into a dam on the NSW far south coast.

The water bombing aircraft, tasked to the Clyde Mountain fire, ditched into Ben Boyd Reservoir in the Ben Boyd National Park at Edrom just after 4pm today.

Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT unit arriving at the scene at Ben Boyd Reservoir where a water-bombing helicopter crashed. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT unit arriving at the scene at Ben Boyd Reservoir where a water-bombing helicopter crashed. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The pilot managed to free himself and escaped with minor injuries, with ambulances now responding.

4.30pm: Luck turns on Kangaroo Island

Emergency warnings remain in place but firefighters believe the towns of Parndana and Vivonne Bay may be spared total destruction after a second major escalation in the Kangaroo Island bushfire, AAP reports.

A convoy of ADF light armoured vehicles on Kangaroo Island. Picture: AAP
A convoy of ADF light armoured vehicles on Kangaroo Island. Picture: AAP

Both towns came under direct threat on Thursday after being evacuated as fire fronts raged towards them.

But Country Fire Service deputy incident controller Ray Jackson said a wind change came earlier than forecast and had pushed the fire fronts to the east. “It’s safe to say that currently Parndana is still of a concern but the fire is not expected to run into there with a high intensity,” he said.

He said a similar situation was also expected for Vivonne Bay with the CFS “hopeful” the shacks and properties along the southern coast of the island would be okay.

Mr Jackson said the fire was currently running along the Cygnet River towards Kingscote but the island’s largest town was not considered at risk and residents were not being asked to leave.

— AAP

4pm: Another music festival canned

Electronic music festival Rainbow Serpent has announced it will not go ahead as planned on the Australia Day weekend, AAP reports.

Rainbow Serpent follows Falls Festival and A Day On The Green as the third Victorian music festival cancelled due to the bushfires.

Other events such as the Karkarook Parkrun and Couta Boat Classic have also been cancelled because of the blazes.

— AAP

3.30pm: Navy delivers beer to Mallacoota

A pub with no beer is the last thing people need in the bushfire-stricken Victorian town of Mallacoota, AAP reports.

Locals have made thirsty work of securing more of the amber fluid amid fears the town’s drinking hole would run dry in a week’s time.

Mallacoota Hotel Motel arranged a last-minute delivery of 3000 litres of beer with Carlton & United Breweries, to be delivered on HMAS Choules.

Twenty kegs of Victoria Bitter and Carlton Draught, three pallets of VB stubbies, 36 slabs of Strongbow and Great Northern was loaded on Thursday. “The pub is at the heart of regional communities. And a pub with no beer is bad enough at the best of times,” CUB chief executive Peter Filipovic said. “After what Mallacoota residents and fireys have been through the least we could do is make sure they could enjoy a beer.”

CUB also threw in four kegs of beer on the house.

— AAP

3pm: Power returning

Endeavour Energy plans to have power restored to all its fire-affected NSW South Coast and Southern Highlands customers, AAP reports.

The distributor expects to restore power on Thursday evening by either repairing damaged powerlines, or installing generators for customers where repairs may take longer.

Endeavour said in a statement it was contacting 300 customers in isolated areas without power to offer generators where it was safe and feasible, or to ensure they had their own.

— AAP

2.34pm: Councils given $1 million recovery in funding

Dozens of local council areas hit by the bushfires will each be given $1 million from the federal government, AAP reports.

Scott Morrison has identified 42 councils eligible for the payments, while $18 million has been set aside to offer extra money to local governments worst affected by the fires.

“This is initial and urgent — there will be more,” the prime minister said.

More than 1600 Army reservists have been dispatched to bushfire operations as conditions worsen along Australia’s east coast.

The bushfires have killed 27 people and destroyed 2131 homes across the country.

“We are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster,” Mr Morrison said.

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud, PM Scott Morrison and National Bushfire Recovery Agency Coordinator Andrew Colvin in Canberra today. Picture: AP
Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud, PM Scott Morrison and National Bushfire Recovery Agency Coordinator Andrew Colvin in Canberra today. Picture: AP

Rebecca Urban 2.32pm: Residents told to flee King Valley blaze

A fire east of Victoria’s King Valley has flared up, prompting authorities to reissue an emergency warning.

Emergency Management Victoria has warned residents of Carboor, Carboor East, Carboor Upper, Cheshunt, Claremont, Dandongadale, Markwood, Myrrhee, Pieper, Rose River, Whitfield, Whitlands and Whorouly South that the Abbeyard bushfire has crossed the Mount Emu track and was moving in a northwesterly direction.

“Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous,” the warning says.

The flare-up comes as firefighters are bracing for conditions to worsen into the afternoon, when nearby Wangarratta is expecting temperatures to climb to 37C ahead of 41C on Friday.

12.55pm: Forrest pledges $70 million

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola have donated $70 million to the bushfire recovery effort.

Mr Forrest said $10 million would go towards assembling a “volunteer army” of more than 1200 people to help rebuild devastated communities. Another $10 million would be spent in communities in collaboration with charity groups, while the remaining $50 million would go towards developing a national blueprint for fire and disaster resilience.

Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola will tip $70 million into bushfire recovery efforts. Picture: Colin Murty
Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola will tip $70 million into bushfire recovery efforts. Picture: Colin Murty

The massive Forrest donation, made through the Minderoo Foundation, comes the day after the Paul Ramsay Foundation committed $30 million to relief funds.

The Red Cross, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and St Vincent de Paul will each receive $1 million for current relief efforts, while a further $27 million will be spent over the next 12-18 months in consultation with government agencies, charities and affected communities.

12.45pm: AFL players kick in

The AFL will host a representative match between Victoria and an All-Stars line-up at Marvel Stadium on February 28 to raise money for bushfire relief, AAP reports. The AFL played a fundraising match in 2009 between Essendon and the Western Bulldogs to support victims of the Black Saturday bushfires, raising $1.2 million.

The last Origin-style fixture was in 2008, when Victoria beat the Dream Team by 17 points at the MCG.

The AFL will also donate $2.5 million to recovery efforts.

— AAP

12.15pm: Kangaroo Island evacuations

Residents on Kangaroo Island are being told to leave their homes immediately with the army knocking door to door as fire races towards the town of Parndana. TV reports said ADF members were telling people they had just five minutes to leave. The Country Fire Service says the fire is burning in a southeasterly direction. The devastated island is bracing for another day of severe fire risk on Thursday.

Army begins evacuations on Kangaroo Island

Rachel Baxendale 11.45am: Vic appeal hits $15m

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said $15 million had so far been raised for the official Victorian bushfires appeal being run through the Bendigo Bank. “We are grateful to generous Victorians and others who have pledged that $15m,” Mr Andrews said. “We expect that number to continue to rise and that is a great testament to the spirit of Victorians helping out those who are really doing it very, very tough.’’

Mr Andrews said the state government was covering the overhead costs involved in managing the Victorian bushfire appeal. “It is, in my judgment, the best place to donate money, whether it be a small or large donation, we are very grateful and we will make sure that we use that to provide support and assistance to many people who have lost everything.”

Those wishing to make a donation can visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal

Rachel Baxendale 11.15am: Smoke haze to remain

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Stephen McGibbony said smoke haze in northern Victoria was likely to blow south and develop over the southern and central parts of the state, including Melbourne, on Thursday. Albury-Wodonga and Wangaratta in the state’s north east are headed for top temperatures of 37C on Thursday and 41C on Friday, with East Gippsland likely to reach the mid 30s on Thursday and 40C on Friday.

“Tomorrow, we will see a return to severe to extreme fire danger conditions across parts of Victoria with a hot to very hot day and a squally and gusty south-westerly wind change moving across the state, winds generally out of the north, moderate strength through central and eastern parts of the state and they will be freshening through the day, particularly about elevated areas and the ranges and more generally through the north east as well,” Mr McGibbony said.

“There will be a gusty south-westerly wind change which will move across the state tomorrow. That will move into the west of the state earlier in the day. It will reach central areas around midday and early afternoon and make its way through the east of the state in the mid- to late afternoon and through the evening reaching Bairnsdale around 3:00pm and Mount Buller around 4:00pm and reaching Mallacoota by 6:00pm.”

Mr McGibbony said the change would not reach the fire-affected far north east of Victoria until well into Friday evening.

Rachel Baxendale 10.45am: ‘It’s warming up’

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp says the key area of concern in Victoria overnight had been the Abbeyard fire, which was spotting from its northwest flank, sparking an emergency warning for communities about 20km southwest of Myrtleford in the state’s northeast.

An emergency warning issued overnight for the communities of Bobinawarrah, Carboor, Kneebones Gap, Whorouly, Whorouly East and Whorouly South has since been downgraded to a watch and act, but conditions are again expected to deteriorate today and tomorrow.

Mr Crisp said rain earlier in the week had merely suppressed, rather than extinguished, the fires. “It is warming up,” he says.

Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp speaks to the media at the State Control Centre in Melbourne today. Picture: AAP
Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp speaks to the media at the State Control Centre in Melbourne today. Picture: AAP

Mr Crisp says fire damage assessments are ongoing, with 244 houses and 400 structures so far confirmed as lost but more assessments to come.

“We know people who are doing it tough out there in relation to their personal circumstances at the moment,” he says. “There are payments that are available.

“The Department of Health and human services have established a hotline number for people to call, that is 1800 961 054.

“If you are not able to get to a relief centre, you will be supported and you can call that particular number.”

Mr Crisp says navy vessel HMAS Choules is reloading with supplies to take back to Mallacoota today, after evacuating the last group of people who wished to leave the town yesterday.

Rachel Baxendale 10.35am: Victoria update

Mr Crisp says the number of fires burning in Victoria has increased from 12 to 23.

“It is not that we have got new fires,” he says. “What that means is that we actually group together a number of fires into complexes to hopefully make it easier for people to understand the fire ground we had.

“We had feedback from the community that they wanted to separate some of the fires to get a better understanding about what was happening in the local areas.

“As always, we listen to that and work with communities.”

Mr Crisp says there are 13 watch and act messages in place across north east Victoria and Gippsland, with 1.2 million hectares burnt since November 21.

Rachel Baxendale 10.25am: State of disaster extended

Premier Daniel Andrews has extended Victoria’s state of disaster for 48 hours, ahead of hot, windy conditions forecast today and tomorrow.

The state of disaster will run until midnight on Saturday evening.

“The reason I’ve done that is that we have forecast conditions of extreme danger, very significant fire activity is likely off the back of a hot day today, a hot day tomorrow, and a change not coming through to the east of the state until late afternoon tomorrow and the northern part of the state not until evening on Saturday,” Mr Andrews said.

“This means that we have every reason to believe there will be significant fire activity over the next 48 hours, and that means it’s appropriate to continue the state of disaster, those powers, that seamless approach to co-ordinating effort and also sending the clearest possible message.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty Images
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty Images

“There will messages going out to communities in the fire zone over the course of today and throughout this next spike of really hot weather, and those messages will indicate to people that they are in the fire zone and that if they can leave, they should leave, because we will not be able to guarantee their safety.”

Mr Andrews urged people to follow any advice given to them by authorities.

“The advice is issued for your best interests, for your safety, and indeed the safety of those who may be called to your aid,” he said.

“It’s always difficult to predict how challenging the next couple of days will be, but with so much fire in the landscape, with such a massive fire edge, with hot weather and significant winds, there’s every reason to think we are going to have more fire today and of course tomorrow and potentially right into the weekend.

“This is a really significant challenge for us. We don’t underestimate it. We don’t like extending the state of disaster.

“We’ve done it because we believe that it will save lives, and that after all is the most important thing.”

Angelica Snowden 9.50am: Fire threat upgraded in SA

Fires could breach containment lines in South Australia today as weather is set to deteriorate with temperatures creeping up to the mid 30s and north to north westerly winds.

The Ravine fire burning in Cassini on Kangaroo Island was upgraded to a ‘watch and act’, with residents advised to leave now as roads could become blocked and smoke will reduce visibility.

A helicopter drops water on bushfires sweeping through Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide. Picture: AAP
A helicopter drops water on bushfires sweeping through Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide. Picture: AAP

Vivonne Bay was evacuated last night as a fire stretching 12km from West of the Bay to the West of Parndana.

Residents in Williamstown, Mt Crawford and the Kersbrook area are advised to stay alert and monitor conditions as fire danger is expected to increase today.

About 250 firefighters and other emergency workers will focus their efforts on Kangaroo Island today, working to extinguish breakout fires from a fire burning near the Playford and West End Highway.

Yoni Bashan 9.15am: NSW government kicks in $1bn

The NSW government has announced $1 billion in new funding that will be spent on roads, train lines, bridges, schools and other state and community infrastructure that have been ravaged by bushfire activity.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the spending alongside Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who said the money was destined to stimulate local economies and revive stricken communities.

“This money will provide an immediate source of funding to ensure key infrastructure is restored so that communities can get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The Treasurer said the $1 billion had been sourced from capital reserves across government. This is different from the state’s budget surplus, which is currently forecast at $702 million. Capital reserves are funds that have been earmarked, or left over, from projects already announced.

An official said the new spending would not see any money diverted from existing infrastructure projects elsewhere.

Ms Berejiklian said communities where fires had subsided likely be prioritised for the spending, though it was “too early” to name individual beneficiaries.

She said the Federal government would continue to pay individuals, small businesses and households through its existing disaster-relief packages, allowing the NSW government to focus on rebuilding.

“We don’t simply want to rebuild these communities — we want them to thrive,” said Mr Perrottet, pointing to the links between spending and stimulus for local economies.

Ms Berejiklian said a royal commission into the fires would be a matter for the prime minister, but regardless of that decision there would be a state-based review into the fires.

Graham Lloyd 9am: Hottest year on record

Australia experienced both its warmest and driest year on record last year. The Bureau of Meteorology says the record warm and dry year was a key factor influencing recent and current fire conditions. Read more here

Rachel Baxendale 8.30am: State wide of the mark on target burn-offs

Victoria carried out just over half the fuel reduction burns it planned in 2019, burning one-third of what was recommended. Read more here

More Coverage

State wide of mark on burn-offs
RACHEL BAXENDALE, MARK SCHLIEBS
Read related topics:Bushfires

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/bushfires-emergency-nsw-premier-gladys-berejiklian-announces-1bn-for-rebuild/news-story/87ff708749fbacea29757ff5e4b69eed