NSW, Queensland bushfire emergency: Nine emergency warnings with Sydney suburb bathed in fire retardant
There are nine emergency warnings across NSW, with a Sydney suburb bathed in red fire retardant after crews raced to protect homes.
- At least 12 homes lost, damaged
- ‘We’ve got a long way to go’
- Fire in Sydney suburb
- Unprecedented callout on the cards
- Eight fires reach emergency level
- Winds strengthen to 40km/h
- State of emergency explained
- Cold change may worsen danger
- Queensland Fire Weather warning
- ‘Most dangerous fire week in our history’
Welcome to The Australian’s live coverage — free for all readers — of the bushfires disaster raging across NSW and Queensland.
KEY LINKS: Greens playing with fire: Coalition, Labor | Greens pour fuel on fires | Greens policies increasing bushfire threat: Joyce | Safety ‘can’t be put on backburner’
CHECK FIRES NEAR YOU: Click here for the RFS Fires Near Me service
11.06pm: Fire threat remains as winds change
Firefighters dealt with hundreds of new fires as NSW endured “catastrophic” conditions on Tuesday but authorities have warned the threat is not over as a southerly wind change sweeps across the state.
More than a million hectares of land has been consumed by bushfires that damaged or destroyed 12 more homes.
A number of firefighters were injured, but none are in a life-threatening condition, and there were no people missing as of Tuesday night, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
The bushfires, which hit hard on Friday, have claimed three lives and destroyed at least 150 homes so far.
In a fortunate turn of events, heavy smoke provided insulation from strong winds moving across the Northern Tablelands and meant several fires did not flare up as much as feared, Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
But he warned the southerly wind change still poses a danger. “It’s very dangerous across active firegrounds,” he told reporters in Sydney.
“The enormity of the task to bring these fires properly under control, to consolidate them, to get around them and mop them up is enormous.”
Temperatures in the high 30s, low humidity and winds gusts beyond 70km/h coupled with drought meant the state faced “horrendous conditions”, the RFS said, with 300 new fires.
While conditions are expected to ease on Wednesday, he said a forecast for severe weather into the weekend and another burst of hot air next week means “we simply aren’t going to get the upper hand on all of these fires”. There were nine fires burning at emergency warning level on Tuesday night, from just north of Sydney all the way to the Queensland border.
Kieran Gair 9.38pm: Threat ‘cannot be underestimated’
There are now nine emergency warnings in place for bushfires across NSW.
At the height of today’s crisis, 15 fires were at emergency level.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said crews battled a staggering 300 new fires today.
“We dealt with some fires swiftly, like we saw in Turramurra on Sydney’s north shore,” he said.
“Some were dealt with over a couple of hours and there are a few we are still dealing with.”
NSW lost a million hectares of land today to the bushfires.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the threat still remains across large parts of the state and it “cannot be underestimated.’’
Kieran Gair 9.24pm: Police investigate Sydney fires
Police are investigating whether a fire in Sydney’s upper north shore was deliberately lit by a suspected arsonist on Tuesday afternoon.
A crime scene has been established near scorched bushland at South Turramurra and police are investigating the origins of the fire.
According to reports, officers were seen searching a car and speaking to two young males at Canoon Road.
The south Turramurra fire was upgraded to emergency level, the highest warning level in NSW, just after 4pm on Tuesday.
One resident told Nine News he was shocked by the intensity and speed of the fire.
“Well a fire started, it seems like only 20 to 30 metres away, but it only took five or 10 minutes until the whole lot took up and flames probably about 150 feet in the air through the tree trops,” Douglass Greening told Nine.
Large swathes of the leafy suburb were doused in red flame retardant as fire crews raced to extinguish the fast-moving blaze.
It was the only major blaze to breakout in Sydney amid a “catastrophic” fire warning and was downgraded to “advice” level at about 6pm.
A firefighter was rushed to hospital after suffering a fractured arm while battling the blaze.
Meanwhile, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said a fire in the Royal National Park at Loftus was “clearly suspicious”.
The Commissioner said the fire had “multiple ignitions” points.
“Many of you in Sydney would know that for the last few months and years we’ve had a number of fires started in the Royal National Park .”
A chain of suspicious fires have been lit by suspected arsonists throughout the National Park in recent years.
Kieran Gair 8.58pm: At least 12 NSW homes lost or damaged
Early reports suggest at least 12 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the NSW bushfires today.
“I am aware of some damage or destruction at North Rothbury and particularly in that fire burning south of Taree,” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Tuesday night.
However, the scale of the damage will not be fully known until crews are able to access fire grounds.
Thankfully, there are no reports of fatalities.
10 emergency warnings remain in place for bushfires across NSW, with the RFS Commissioner warning there’s still some “very aggressive fire behaviour unfolding”.
70 fires are burning across the state, with 45 of them not contained.
In his 8pm briefing, Shane Fitzsimmons said a southerly change will bring relief to parts of Sydney but it poses a significant risk to fire fighting efforts further north.
“Fires north of Sydney are subject to the influence of this strong southerly change and that will influence fire behaviour by creating volatile and potentially dangerous conditions,” he said.
“The fire just north of the Hawkesbury is spotting as far as six to eight kilometres ahead”.
“We will likely see an increase in the fire activity travelling towards Nana Glen, west of Coffs Harbour.”
The RFS said two firefighters battling blazes today had to be treated for injuries in hospital, while many likely suffered minor injuries.
“There were some fractures, heat exhaustion, fainting and some fire fighters collapsed,” he said.
“Touch wood, that’s as bad as it gets at the moment and I sincerely hope it stays that way.”
Daniel Sankey 7.10pm: Images from the fire front
Brave firefighters have spent days battling the devastating bushfires that are currently ravaging NSW and Queensland. Their efforts have saved countless homes — but their work will continue into the night. A cool change is not expected to reach bushfire-affected regions in NSW until around midnight or later.
Kieran Gair 6.45pm: Face of bushfire crisis again evacuated
Owen Whalan, the 85-year-old who unwittingly became the face of the bushfire crisis gripping NSW when he bowed his head in prayer with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at an evacuation centre in Taree, has again been evacuated from his home.
After being evacuated over the weekend, Owen and his wife Catherine finally returned to their home in Koorainghat this morning. However, their return stay in their home was a short one as they were once again forced to seek shelter as an out-of-control bushfire threatened their community.
Together with their daughter Wendy, son-in-law Jamie, 16-year-old grandson Lachlon and of course their beloved four border collies, Owen and Catherine packed their white sedan and left their home of 50 years behind.
Owen was eating a steak at the RSL on Tuesday when The Australian called. He said he had found a safe place to stay for the night and his biggest concern now was for the welfare of his four dogs.
“I’ve got my working dogs with me at the RSL and I need to find a place for them to stay,” he said.
“It’s easy enough for all of us, but it’s really the dogs I’m worried about.”
But by the time Owen had finished talking to The Australian on Tuesday night he said he thought he had found a safe place for his dogs.
Kieran Gair 5.56pm: ‘We’ve got a long way to go’
There are now 14 emergency warnings in place for bushfires across NSW, with the RFS Commissioner warning “we’ve got a long way to go”.
Seventy-eight fires are burning across the state, with 46 of them not contained and eight at a ‘watch and act’ level.
In his 5.30pm briefing, Shane Fitzsimmons said authorities had downgraded a blaze burning in South Turramurra in Sydney’s north to ‘advice level’.
Advice: Canoon Rd, South Turramurra (Ku-Ring-Gai LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
The fire is under control and the immediate threat to properties has eased. Residents should continue to monitor the conditions. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/ZzN4EFVoRr
But he warned residents across NSW that the current “catastrophic” weather conditions are expected to continue until at least 8pm.
“The message is we still need to remain vigilant,” he told reporters.
“We still have many hours left of these strong dry winds which will dominate and influence weather and fire behaviour.”
The RFS has also confirmed that another firefighter has been injured, this time while battling the blaze burning at South Turramurra.
It’s believed he suffered a fractured arm and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Large swathes of South Turramurra are now bathed in red fire retardant after crews raced to protect homes on Tuesday afternoon.
It’s understood firefighters saved at least one home on Canoon Road from burning down, after the fire reached the property’s backyard.
Meanwhile, the liberation trail fire burning out-of-control west of Coffs Harbour is now more than 150,000 hectares in size.
Fitzsimmons said it will pose a significant risk to lives and homes throughout the night.
“It’s only going to grow over the coming hours,” he said.
“If you’ve got a fire that size, you’re fighting across a perimeter of 1000 kilometres.”
Kieran Gair 5.17pm: Fifteen emergency warnings
There are now 15 emergency warnings that have been issued for bushfires across NSW.
78 fires are burning across the state, with 47 of them not contained and eight at a ‘watch and act.’
NSW is edging closer to the record it set last Friday when 17 fires were burning out of control at one time.
Kieran Gair 4.52pm: Out of control fire in Sydney suburb
A bushfire is burning out of control in the area of Canoon Road, South Turramurra, on Sydney’s upper north shore. The fire is spreading quickly and properties are under threat.
The fire is spreading quickly and it is too late to leave. If you are near this area, you need to seek shelter as the fire approaches.
If you are threatened by fire, you may not get assistance and if you are unable to leave, identify a safer location which may be nearby.
NSW Fires: 7NEWS Senior Correspondent @ChrisReason7 is at the scene of a house that has just caught on fire on Lyon Ave in South Turramurra. https://t.co/bWQZlkwbBC #NSWfires #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/8FneFcDzBK
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) November 12, 2019
There are now 13 emergency warnings that have been issued for bushfires across NSW, and this is the first emergency warning that takes in suburban Sydney.
Red fire retardant is currently being dropped on homes around the area and at least three helicopters have been deployed by fire authorities in an effort to bring the out-of-control blaze under control.
This is how close an emergency bushfire came to homes in South Turramurra. Firefighters were quick into action, dropping retardant on to the flames @2GB873 pic.twitter.com/XBHigJr77Q
— Helene Lambetsos (@helenelambetsos) November 12, 2019
Vision circulating on social media shows plumes of smoke billowing out over heavily forested areas which back onto a number of residential streets.
Breaking my Twitter moratorium to add my little bit to the ongoing #NSWFires coverage. I'm about 1km away from an out of control grass fire in #Turramurra. Several helicopters and fire engines surround a moderately busy area. @7NewsSydney @abcsydney @9NewsSyd @10NewsFirst pic.twitter.com/tA7FZMZNT2
— Hans Lee æŽå¤©ç¿° (@ThatHansLee) November 12, 2019
Properties in Hinkler Ave, Canoon Rd and Field of Mars Ave are under threat. Properties in Barwon Ave are also at risk of embers.
This is the scenario the RFS had feared would eventuate on Tuesday afternoon. The state’s fire crisis has now stretched into the heart of suburban Sydney and homes and lives on the city’s north shore in South Turramurra are under threat.
The air assets were on to that Turramurra fire quick. Red fire retardant everywhere pic.twitter.com/I6hkHLdvmJ
— Possum Comitatus (@Pollytics) November 12, 2019
Kieran Gair 4.47pm: Boy, 9, caught lighting fire
A nine-year-old boy has been caught red-handed with a blowtorch after he deliberately lit a grass fire in Worrigee in Nowra.
The boy admitted to lighting the fire and police were able to quickly extinguish the small blaze. He was issued with a warning under the Young Offenders Act.
The boy is one of four people who have been caught breaching the total fire bans in place across NSW.
A 27-year-old man was caught allegedly setting a small campfire to boil water for a cup of tea at Fowler Reserve, Wallacia. Police immediately extinguished the flames and issued the man with an on-the-spot fine of $2200.
In Prestons, south-west of Sydney, police attended to reports of a 35-year old man allegedly burning fence palings in a cylindrical barbecue at about 7pm on Monday. A secondary fire started after embers ignited a pile of palings, and both fires were extinguished by emergency services.
At about 5am on Tuesday, Fire and Rescue NSW attended a property in Lalor Park in Sydney’s west, after a 46-year-old man allegedly lit a small fire in a coal barbecue.
Exasperated police have used the incidents to again highlight the dangers of breaching a total fire ban.
“During a Total Fire Ban you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or to carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire,” a police spokesperson said on Tuesday afternoon.
A total statewide fire ban remains in place in NSW, and has now been extended to tomorrow.
Kieran Gair 4.30pm: Concern as southerly change nears
There are now 12 emergency warnings that have been issued for bushfires across NSW, particularly affecting the mid-north coast, with the NSW RFS Commissioner warning “we simply can’t rest easy at this stage”.
In his 4pm briefing, Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 78 fires were burning across the state, with 47 of them not contained.
Many of the fires burning in northeast NSW are close to communities and the Gosford Road fire north of Sydney is also edging closer to homes.
“We are seeing very strong winds coming down through the Hunter Region and across the Central Tablelands area which are influencing and driving this fire behaviour,” Mr Fitzsimmons told reporters.
“We are still concerned with the movement of southerly change as it heads through NSW over the coming hours.”
The RFS also confirmed reports that a firefighter battling a blaze in the Hunter has suffered a suspected cardiac arrest and is receiving treatment from paramedics.
“I have reports of injuries to a firefighter and potentially a serious injury with reports of a cardiac arrest in the Hunter,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.
“We have an ambulance dispatched as we speak.”
The current “catastrophic” weather conditions are expected to continue until at least 8pm
4.26pm: Sydney workers told to head home
Transport authorities are urging people in Sydney to leave work early and avoid non-essential travel because the road and rail network may be affected by extreme heat and strong winds.
More than 70 fires are raging across the state with 40 uncontained and more than 10 subject to emergency warnings.
The Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter and Illawarra-Shoalhaven regions have been issued catastrophic fire danger ratings.
“High winds are predicted to sweep into Sydney and the Illawarra this afternoon which on top of the significant heat may start to affect the public transport network,” Transport for NSW said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. “Most trains will be operating under speed restrictions due to the high heat, as a safety precaution. Strong winds may further affect the road and rail network.
“We encourage you to leave work early if you can due to today’s extreme heat and a southerly change predicted for the Illawarra from 5pm and inner-city Sydney just before 6pm.” Transport for NSW also encouraged people to avoid “all non-essential travel on roads and public transport”.
Many roads outside of Sydney remain closed due to bushfires. “If you need to travel, be prepared for conditions to change quickly and roads to close suddenly,” Transport for NSW said.
“Also make sure you’ve got water, food, supplies and a full tank of fuel. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged before you set out.
“If you’re already travelling when a bushfire starts, follow the directions of emergency services personnel.”
AAP
4.15pm: Llandilo fire spreads rapidly
Terrifying footage taken by a local of a spot fire that took hold suddenly in Landillo at 1.55pm. Locals report that within moments it engulfed 8ha of land. pic.twitter.com/zQ9x9ekxJ9
— Paul Maley (@paul_maley) November 12, 2019
Emily Ritchie 4.07pm: ‘We actually live this s..t!’
Barnaby Joyce has gone on a tirade, saying “bureaucracy” was preventing people from protecting their homes in the bushfires after his controversial comments earlier today.
Mr Joyce has drawn criticism after he claimed two people who died in the NSW bushfires “most likely” Greens supporters.
The former deputy prime minister was criticising the party for linking climate change to the unprecedented fires.
But as he was protecting his property in the New England area from the bushfires on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Joyce said the Greens’ opposition to backburning and land clearing is unacceptable.
“We’ve got to get on top of this crap where there’s all this bureaucracy that stands in the way of people keeping their place safe,” Mr Joyce told Sydney’s 2GB radio.
“We’re just absolutely sick of people who have nothing to do with our bloody life telling us what to do! It’s not pretend for us … this is our life, we actually live this s..t!”
Chris Kenny 4.00pm: Left’s climate lunacy is dangerous
I am not going to go quiet on this crazy debate about bushfires and climate.
Too many journalists are giving credence to this debate, too many are entertaining the comments of the Greens and others as somehow defensible when they are clearly offensive and so idiotic it is impossible to justify anyone taking them seriously.
Let’s have a listen again to inner-city Melbourne Greens MP Adam Bandt on ABC radio this morning doubling down on his madness.
ADAM BANDT: “This government’s been in power now for six years and what’s happened during that time is that they’ve come up with so called climate policies that have helped deliver this kind of scenario.”
This bloke is seriously trying to pretend that anything any government has done in the past six years has contributed to the fire danger today.
No, he is not talking about failure to clear bush, to implement hazard reduction burns.
He is talking about climate.
3.19pm: Total fire ban extended
NSW statewide total fire ban has been extended until midnight Wednesday @australian https://t.co/aASTHCWgpb
— Emily Ritchie (@emritchiejourno) November 12, 2019
Emily Ritchie 3.13pm: Compulsory military callout on the cards
The Defence Minister is considering an unprecedented compulsory callout of military reserves to assist with the bushfire emergency facing NSW and Queensland, a mechanism of the Defence Act which has never been enacted.
Linda Reynolds told Question Time on Tuesday she was scoping the “availability and readiness” of reserve forces across the army, navy and air force.
“As Minister for Defence at this time of unprecedented fire threat, I am focused on ensuring that the Australian Defence Force is ready to provide additional support for the front line first responders,” Ms Reynolds said.
“But work is also now underway to scope the availability and also the readiness of our highly capable reserve forces across all three services. Reservists are already regularly employed for emergency disaster assistance and recovery under what is called for arrangements.
“I’m also working with defence to work through how we can provide further response to larger, more severe and also more protracted natural disasters beyond the call for arrangements. A broader response can include a compulsory callout of reserves if the situation requires. Reserve forces can be called out by the Governor-General in accordance with section 28 of the Defence Act. This mechanism has never been used. Defence is working through every aspect, at the moment, of such a callout, to ensure that we are prepared, if required.”
She said emergency reserve support forces were already at 120 person capacity in Brisbane and 130 person capacity in Sydney to “provide transport, logistics and other requested and required support”.
Ms Reynolds said, while the defence forces were not firefighters, they were “doing everything they can to help the community in these catastrophic circumstances”.
“I pay tribute to our fire services who are battling these circumstances and I particularly thank our ADF personnel who are supporting the effort,” she said.
RFS crews in Woodford are battling a hot spot on the old fireground. Winds are picking up & both crews & locals are bracing for ember attacks on nearby properties. Read more â¦@australianâ© pic.twitter.com/uDYahWQUGr
— Paul Maley (@paul_maley) November 12, 2019
“Royal Australian Air Force have already transported firefighters and their equipment from Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart to Port Macquarie, an area of high and immediate need. Singleton and Lismore bases in New South Wales are providing accommodation and catering to firefighters from the Victorian Country Fire Authority, today and tomorrow, army and naval helicopters will support firefighter movements, and civilian rescues as requested. Yesterday, I asked the chief of Defence Force to give an order to all military base commanders making clear that they have the authority to use local defence assets and resources to respond to any local contingencies. Defence is also postured to provide further air lift and is prepared to provide assistance in areas such as aerial fire reconnaissance and logistical assistance.”
Emily Ritchie 2.40pm: Fire count reaches 71, 40 not contained
There are now multiple emergency warnings that have been issued for bushfires across NSW, particularly affecting the mid-north coast, with the NSW RFS Commissioner warning we “cannot afford for people to be complacent”.
In his 2pm briefing, Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 71 fires were burning across the state, with 40 of them not contained, with many of the fires burning in northeast NSW close to population.
There are 10 fires at the watch and act emergency level.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said wind speeds had reached 80km/hr in the greater hunter area, which is currently consumed by fire activity, and 70km/h in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
“Complacency kills,” he said.
“Touch wood we don’t have any significant outbreaks of new fire at this stage causing any issue but we still can’t rule that out.”
He said he was receiving intel about potential new fires breaking out in the Hunter Region, but that he was yet to confirm if firefighters had been able to get them under control.
2.25pm: Mares Run, fire heads towards Macksville
EMERGENCY WARNING: Reserves Rd, Mares Run (Mid-Coast LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
Fire is burning in the area of Mares Run towards Cooplacarripa and is spreading quickly. If you are in Cooplacarripa, you are at risk. It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/B7ehIg4oFD
EMERGENCY WARNING: Kian Rd (Nambucca LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
The fire has breached containment lines and is burning towards Macksville. If you're near Talarm, Macksville, Allgomera Creek, seek shelter as the fire approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/kCNjBRMxNX
Emily Ritchie 2.17pm: Eight fires reach emergency level
There are now eight bushfires at an emergency level, with a further 10 still at a Watch and Act level.
A fire burning at Myall Creek Road in Bora Ridge southeast of Byron Bay has been escalated to an emergency warning after breaking containment lines.
“The fire is spreading quickly and is expected to impact on the areas of Bungawalbin, New Italy and The Gap Road,” the NSW RFS said.
“If you are in the area of Bungawalbin, New Italy and The Gap Road, you are at risk. It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.”
In his 2pm briefing, NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said there were reports of some properties being impacted and perhaps destroyed in the Hillville bushfire south of Taree.
Andrew Clennell 2.05pm: A third slashed from park ranger numbers
The number of NSW national parks rangers — who perform hazard reduction burns — have been cut by a third since the Coalition government came into power in 2011, the Public Service Association claims, with one of its officials calling remarks by Deputy Premier John Barilaro that a failure to burn increased the severity of current fires “worse than an insult”.
The industrial manager for the Public Service Association, Nathan Bradshaw, said that since 2011, a total of 289 rangers, including 28 senior rangers, had been cut to 193.
Since 2017, in a restructure, the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s number of area managers was cut from 50 to 37.
And the Office of Environment and Heritage’s budget was cut by $80 million this year, Mr Bradshaw said, of which the National Parks and Wildlife Service was absorbing part of the cut.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro in The Australian on Tuesday laid part of the blame for the severity of the fires on a failure by National Parks staff to do hazard reduction burns.
“We need to do more hazard reduction (burning) in national parks to manage the fuel load,” Mr Barilaro said.
Alice Workman 1.55pm: ‘Obnoxious uncles at a Christmas party’
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has accused Nationals leader Michael McCormack and backbencher Barnaby Joyce of acting like “obnoxious uncles at a Christmas party” over their contentious comments about climate change.
“Mr Joyce had the gall to link the deaths of two people … to whether they are Greens voters,” Ms Hanson-Young told parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
“It doesn’t matter what part of this country you live. Where you were born. How old you are, how rich you are, how poor you are, what you do for a job. Climate change is already having a huge impact,” Ms Hanson-Young said.
“This is not just a matter that affects the inner city lefties. This is an issue that right now, today, that is confronting the very people of the bush that Mr McCormack is meant to represent.
“Between Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack … these two blokes are sounding more and more like the obnoxious uncles at the Christmas party doing everything they can to piss everybody off and upset them. Grab a headline! Insult people!
“It is unbecoming and revolting.”
Ms Hanson-Young has called on Mr McCormack and Mr Joyce to issue an apology.
1.53pm: Rally aborted amid bushfire threat
Rally Australia has been cancelled because of concerns over destructive fires near the venue in the northeast of NSW.
Organisers initially proposed a revised, shortened route for the final round of the World Rally Championship but took the decision on Tuesday to abort the race as the Coffs Harbour region braced for extreme fire danger.
Hundreds of schools were closed and residents urged to evacuate woodlands as 50 fires blazed across NSW and the provincial government declared a week-long state of emergency.
Rally Australia chairman Andrew Papadopoulos said the cancellation was the only course available, considering the safety of the more than 1000 people involved as officials, competitors and in support roles for the event that was due to start Thursday.
“It’s not appropriate to conduct the rally,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with the NSW community, especially the people who have lost loved ones, livelihoods and homes as a result of the fires.”
AP
Emily Ritchie 1.48pm: Seventh emergency warning
The seventh emergency warning has been issued for the NSW bushfires, with the Washpool State Forest Coombadjha fire northwest of Coffs Harbour breaking containment lines.
The fire is burning on both sides of the Carnham Road, and both sides of the Clarence Way in the vicinity Eighteen Mile. The fire has breached containment and is threatening the community of Baryulgil. The fire on the western side of the Clarence River is still moving north towards Ewingar.
“If you are in the area of Baryulgil seek shelter as the fire approaches, it is too late to leave, the NSW RFS says.
“If you are in the areas of Eighteen Mile, Fine Flower, Dumbudgery and Carnham, monitor conditions and watch out for burning embers.”
EMERGENCY WARNING: Washpool State Forest
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
Fire is threatening Baryulgil. If you're in Baryulgil seek shelter as the fire approaches. It is too late to leave. If you're in Eighteen Mile, Fine Flower, Dumbudgery or Carnham, monitor conditions. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/QNe76zKvtJ
Emily Ritchie 1.45pm: Sixth emergency warning
Residents of Nana Glen and Coramba are being urged to head towards Coffs Harbour as the sixth emergency warning is issued for the NSW bushfires.
The Liberation Trail bushfire in the Clarence Valley council area, which has already burned through 148000ha, has breached containment lines and is spreading quickly.
Residents of Nana Glen, Coramba and surrounding areas are being urged to leave immediately.
“Do not wait,” the NSW RFS said in a statement.
Actor Russell Crowe owns a property in Nana Glen.
EMERGENCY WARNING: Liberation Trail (Clarence Valley LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
The fire has breached containment lines. If you are in the area of Nana Glen or Coramba and surrounding area, leave now towards Coffs Harbour. Do not wait. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/3IsLsDHjjy
Charlie Peel 1.25pm: Queenslanders warned to stay inside
The Queensland health department’s warning urging people to stay indoors remains intact, despite clearer skies and improved air quality over most of the state.
Several employers, particularly in the construction industry, have heeded the warning, choosing to keep workers indoors on Tuesday.
A thick blanket of bushfire smoke that covered south east Queensland for much of Monday drifted away overnight, leaving clear blue skies over Brisbane, but was expected to build again throughout the day.
The smoke plume from bushfires burning in Queensland and NSW, which has reached as far as New Zealand, severely reduced air quality on Monday and prompted the state’s chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young to issue an extraordinary “whole-of-community” warning for people to stay indoors and for employers to re-task outdoor staff.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman on Tuesday told The Australian the warning remained in place, despite the visibly reduced haze.
People with vulnerabilities are particularly advised to remain indoors.
The spokeswoman said air quality had improved but remained “very poor” and was likely to stay that way as fire conditions worsened.
Emily Ritchie 1.20pm: ‘Nothing but arsonists’
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has blasted the government over their management of the climate, telling Senate on Tuesday afternoon they’re “no better than a bunch of arsonists, borderline arsonists” who should be “ashamed”.
It comes as the fifth emergency warning is issued for bushfires in NSW, with residents west of Kempsey on the mid-north coast being warned it’s too late to leave.
The Carrai Creek fire, which has already burned through 76000ha, has breached containment lines and is spreading quickly.
“If you are in the area west of Kempsey you are at risk,” the NSW RFS said in a tweet.
“It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.”
EMERGENCY WARNING: Carrai East Fire (Kempsey LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
Bush fire is burning west of Kempsey. The fire breached containment lines & is spreading quickly. If you are in the area west of Kempsey you are at risk. It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches #nswrfs #alert pic.twitter.com/fJVX6bZKct
1.15pm: Fires razing 100,000ha
Just more on those emergency warnings: A blaze at Thunderbolts Way in Bretti, northwest of Taree, is burning across 10,000 hectares and is out of control, while residents at Nowendoc and Mount George have been told “it is too late to leave”.
Another out-of-control fire at nearby Hillville is burning across nearly 20,000ha.
There are also emergency fires further north, at Llangothlin north of Armidale, and Torrington north of Glen Innes, with the latter blaze already razing 60,000ha.
“We are certainly starting to see an increase in fire activity and therefore the fire danger is increasing accordingly,” Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters in Sydney.
“The reality is conditions will simply continue to get worse and deteriorate over the coming hours and particularly into this afternoon when the combination of the hotter temperatures, the drier atmosphere and the strengthening winds all come together to drive fire.” Mr Fitzsimmons said the day was unfolding as predicted with a million hectares burning.
“We were expecting the hot dry winds to exacerbate fire spread and behaviour – and that’s exactly what we’re seeing unfold at the moment.”
Emily Ritchie 1.05pm: Bushfire victims ‘likely Greens’
Barnaby Joyce has suggested two NSW bushfire victims – Vivian Chaplain and George Nole – were “most likely” Greens voters.
The former deputy prime minister hypothesised about the political preferences of the Wytaliba bushfire victims while taking aim at Greens MP Adam Bandt for suggesting that stopping coal production could have had any immediate impact on the current weather and bushfire conditions.
Click here to read the full story.
Andrew Clennell 12.55pm: National parks rangers ‘cut by a third’
The number of NSW national parks rangers – who do hazard reduction burns – have been cut by a third since the Coalition government came into power in 2011, the Public Service Association claims with one of its officials calling remarks by Deputy Premier John Barilaro that a failure to burn made the current fires worse “worse than an insult”.
The industrial manager for the Public Service Association, Nathan Bradshaw, said that since 2011, a total of 289 rangers, including 28 senior rangers, had been cut to 193.
Since 2017, in a restructure, the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s number of area managers was cut from 50 to 37.
And the Office of Environment and Heritage’s budget was cut by $80 million this year, Mr Bradshaw said, of which the National Parks and Wildlife Service was absorbing part of the cut.
Click here to read the full story
12.40pm: Fourth emergency warning
A fourth emergency warning has been issued for a bushfire burning in the Whans Rd, Llangothlin area. The RFS warns the fire is expected to impact on the New England Highway and if you are in Llangothlin and surrounding area, it’s too late to leave.
EMERGENCY WARNING: Whans Rd, Llangothlin (Armidale LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
Fire is burning near Llangothlin and spreading quickly. Properties are under threat. If you are in the area of Llangothlin and surrounds, it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/BiQshYdHqb
#NSWBushfires | There are now four fires at Emergency Warning level. @florezcata has the latest.
— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) November 12, 2019
LIVE blog → https://t.co/rQaKFPppYL pic.twitter.com/7FzY59oZj2
12.35pm: Sydney shrouded in smoke
Sydney is now shrouded in smoke as the temperatures climbs toward the high thirties.
The Department of Environment has lowered air quality ratings in the city, where the levels of pollutants this morning hit 224 micrograms of particulates per cubic metre in Sydney’s East and 340 in the Lower Hunter.
People with heart and respiratory conditions and asthma were urged to stay inside.
'Stay alert': millions of Australians brace for 'catastrophic' bushfires https://t.co/PIqkcKJz69 pic.twitter.com/u1k7P56Uvj
— Reuters UK (@ReutersUK) November 12, 2019
In Sydney, the ANZAC retirement home for war veterans, situated on the Collaroy plateau, has been evacuated.
Emily Ritchie 12.15pm: Three emergency orders issued.
Three emergency warnings, the highest emergency level warning in NSW, have been issued as 55 fires still burn across the state.
A fire at Hillville on the mid-coast, Thunderbolts Way further inland near Bretti in the Hunter Region and the Gulf Road fire southwest of Tenterfield have all been escalated to emergency level warnings after conditions worsened on Tuesday morning.
EMERGENCY WARNING: Hillville Rd, Hillville (Mid-Coast LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
The Hillville Road is spreading quickly towards Nabiac.
If you are in the area of Nabiac, seek shelter as the fire approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/ZOAOcVjXij
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it was too late for people to leave in the immediate regions surrounding these fires to leave, which include the communities of Emmaville, Stannum, Nabiac, Mount George and Nowendoc.
He said people in these townships should seek shelter immediately, and the surrounding communities should keep watch for flying embers and be alert to new updates on the RFS website or app.
All of the fires currently burning across the state are existing fires that had already been burning prior to Tuesday.
“We are certainly starting to see an increase in fire activity and therefore the fire danger is increasing accordingly,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said,
“Fortunately, we’ve got no news to report regarding any new fires or any new ignitions and we certainly hope it stays that way over the coming hours,” he said.
He said strong wind gusts of up to 90km/h were predicted for much of the state in the coming hours.
Emily Ritchie 12.10pm: The fundraising effort
Over $250,000 has been raised in the past 72 hours to support victims and firefighters facing devastating bushfires and worsening conditions. Nicola Britton, a spokeswoman for the online fundraising platform GoFundMe, said “the power of the Australian community” had “shone” in the face of the bushfire emergency. She said there had been 215 campaigns created in relation to bushfire relief, and that Australians from every state had been contributing, as well as donors from over 30 countries. There has been over $100,000 raised for the Port Macquarie Koala hospital and over $28,000 for the Wytaliba community which has recorded two deaths — Vivian Chaplain and George Nole — and numerous homes lost as a result of the devastating fires.
Emily Ritchie 12.00pm: Port Macquarie emergency order
An emergency level warning, the highest that can be issued for a fire in NSW, has been released for the Nowendoc and Mount George area 150km west of Port Macquarie. The Thunderbolts Way bushfire has escalated over the past hour and is spreading quickly, with the NSW RFS saying it is too late to leave if you are in its path. “If you are in the Nowendoc and Mount George area, you are at risk,” the NSW RFS said in a statement at 11.40am on Tuesday. “It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.”
EMERGENCY WARNING: Thunderbolts Way, Bretti (Mid-Coast LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
Fire is burning in the area of Thunderbolts Way and Nowendoc Rd & is spreading quickly. If you are in the Nowendoc & Mt George area, it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/kKryAvV5Gg
Emily Ritchie 11.40am: Evacuation warning issued
The NSW RFS has issued an evacuation warning to residents in the Mellong, Howes Valley, St Albans and Upper Macdonald regions northwest of Sydney after a rural bushfire that has been burning for a number of weeks escalated this morning. “If you are in the area of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald, and your plan is to leave, leave now to a safer location,” a warning from the NSW RFS said. “A safer location may include a built up area, well away from bushland.”
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the Putty Road in the Hawkesbury region was going to be closed, and the fire was expected to impact the community of Mellong and Howes Valley. “The clear advice now is leave now, don’t leave it any later. The call is out and if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to leave, “ Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
He said the Gospers Mountain/Putty Road bushfire had potential over the coming hours to spread further east and impact communities like St Albans and upper Macdonald which are just north of the Wisemans Ferry area.
Advice: Gospers Mountain (Lithgow LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 12, 2019
The Putty Road is closed from Colo River to Grey Gums. Residents in the area should monitor conditions and take advice from firefighters on the ground. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/rHO0rePWFZ
He also said the Hillville and Mount Nardi fires in Taree and Nimbin respectively were both starting to see increased fire activity and warned residents to stay alert for updates.
In his 11am briefing, Commissioner Fitzsimmons said there were still 52 bushfires burning across NSW, with 30 uncontained and 13 at a Watch and Act level. He said strong, dangerous wind gusts exceeding 70km/h had been recorded across the ranges. “We are starting to see an increase in fire activity and therefore the fire danger is increasing accordingly,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons. “The reality is conditions will simply continue to get worse and deteriorate over the coming hours and particularly into the afternoon when the combination of the hotter temperatures, drier atmosphere and the strengthening winds all come together to drive fire behaviour.”
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said there was over 80 aircraft available today, with at least four additional military specialist helicopters already out in the field.
“We’ve now got four of those machines acting in and around the catastrophic regions where we believe the risk is most appropriate … and we’ll have another two working tonight for night-vision and surveillance operations as well.”
He said, while there had been some connection issues reported on their website, “overall the performance of the website and the smartphone app are meeting what I can only describe as an extraordinary demand”.
Emily Ritchie 11.30am: Fire Service struggles online
The NSW Rural Fire Service online server is struggling to cope as huge numbers of people flock to the site ahead of catastrophic fire conditions this afternoon. The NSW RFS website is intermittently unavailable, with a ‘Bad Gateway’ notice coming up for some people attempting to access the site. The NSW RFS Facebook page and RFS app are still up and running and might be a more reliable source of updated information if the website is not loading for you. The website may load properly if you refresh the page.
Elias Visontay 11.20am: Residents move toward coast
Residents in towns west of Port Macquarie have already begun migrating towards the mid-North coast on Tuesday morning as smoke from the more than 200,000 hectares of burning bushfire area thickens the sky.
Port Macquarie looking more like Delhi on Tuesday morning. You can't see down the street. Smoke from the tens of thousands of hectares of burning bush already blowing in. Stay safe, and find out more on The @australian's live blog https://t.co/KpEprsh54G #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/pvX7S9qFDf
— Elias Visontay (@EliasVisontay) November 11, 2019
Farmers are moving their cattle, horses and other animals to Wauchope Showgrounds, where many plan to stay for the entirety of Tuesday’s fire danger.
“I can’t even describe what it looks like, there’s just too much smoke.” said Jasmine White, of Redbank, who was at Wauchope showground with Cassidy, one of her family’s horses.
“It’s eerie.”
The 13-year-old told The Australian she hadn’t slept well, suffering severe nausea and vomiting because she was so worried about her home being destroyed by fire.
Just west of Wauchope, three 45,000-litre capacity petrol tankers, donated to the fire effort, were pumping water from the Hastings River to be used by Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters.
Three 45,000 litre capacity trucks pumping water from the Hastings River between Wauchope and Bellangry, to be used by Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters. Bushfires are burning about 200,000 hectares of fire just north west of here #NSWfires @australian pic.twitter.com/OXtv6kXQqa
— Elias Visontay (@EliasVisontay) November 12, 2019
11.05am: Fire activity increases as Sydney heats up
Sydney is heating up, with temperatures reaching 30C in the CBD and 32C in Penrith ahead of an expected high of 35C and over.
Delay non-essential travel today. On the rd? Know that conditions change quickly & rds can close suddenly. Have water, food, supplies, full fuel tank & fully charged mobile phone. If you're driving when a fire starts, follow emergency services' directions. Many rds already clsd. https://t.co/sn1gxZ88za
— Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) November 12, 2019
Winds are gusting at 70km/h, and will get even stronger when a strong southerly hits at about 7pm AEDT.
The RFS has advised on increased fire activity, particularly around Gospers Mountain.
Advice: Gospers Mountain (Lithgow LGA)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
Fire activity is increasing. If you are in the area of Mellong, St Albans and Upper MacDonald, and your plan is to leave, leave now to a safer location. A safer location may include a built up area, well away from bushland. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/05R0wnzgoH
Rachel Baxendale 10.45am: Andrews: CFS doing us proud
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he had been exchanging texts with his NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian head of a “challenging day” for her state.
Mr Andrews said every Victorian could be proud that the state had sent 500 firefighters to its northern neighbour, with the possibility of more in coming days – a presence second only to that of NSW fire services.
“They’re doing us proud, and I know, because Premier Berejiklian has told me what a great relief it was to have those 50 trucks arrive there yesterday,” Mr Andrews said.
“So all the best to everybody in NSW, both our firefighters as well as NSW fire servicemen and women, their broader emergency services family and of course to people affected by bushfire, those in bushfire areas.
“They’re in our thoughts today. It’s going to be a very tough day up north, and we wish them well, and our support is there.”
Mr Andrews said it was clear fire seasons were getting longer, as demonstrated by the proximity of recent fires in California to the current fires in NSW and Queensland.
“We are going to see more and more extreme conditions. The science tells us that. Our lived experience of the last 10 years, 20 years, tells us that,” the Premier said.
“The seasons are getting longer. The gaps between catastrophic events or really challenging circumstances are seemingly getting shorter, and that’s not an opinion, that’s just data.
“That’s why we do the work each year, every year to make sure that our fire services and all the relevant services are appropriately resourced and all the drilling and training that’s done, as well as not cutting budgets, but in fact growing them, and growing the overall capacity of emergency services.”
Asked whether his views on climate change would make him a “raving inner city lunatic” according to comments made yesterday by federal Nationals leader Michael McCormack, Mr Andrews avoided criticising the Infrastructure Minister, who is responsible for allocating billions of dollars to partnerships with the Victorian government.
“I get along well with the Deputy Prime Minister. There are some things we agree on. There are many things we don’t,” Mr Andrews said.
“I wouldn’t use that sort of language, but look I saw him ahead of the Melbourne Cup, I know (Transport Infrastructure Minister) Jacinta (Allan) works very closely with him from an infrastructure point of view.
“I think he’s a pretty decent bloke, and we will continue to work hard to partner wherever we can.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean we agree on every issue, and it certainly doesn’t mean that we have the same turn of phrase.”
Emily Ritchie 10.15am: ‘Think common sense, not heroism’
Scott Morrison has said “common sense has to prevail” on Tuesday as catastrophic fire conditions and hot, windy weather sweep across NSW and Queensland.
“I think common sense has to prevail today,” the Prime Minister told Sydney’s 2GB radio station on Tuesday morning.
“There will be a lot of people who will want to go above and beyond and that’s totally understandable – those news stories of heroism are always there. But I urge people to act with common sense, think of your own safety as well, follow the instructions and warnings and we should get through this today.”
Latest fire prediction map for north coast fires, based on latest observations and forecast. More areas included in risk area if fires take a run as expected today, including Wauchope. Detailed map at https://t.co/BJJg4swtlO #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/pfMBuYCVfe
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
He said while “everything that can be done is being done” by emergency services today, he hoped people had taken time to prepare their bushfire emergency plans.
“The one mercy in all of this is that there’s been a few days to prepare and for people to get ready,” Mr Morrison said.
“I trust that people have been doing that and making their own arrangements.”
He said the armed forces were “ready to go” to assist NSW and Queensland and to “respond locally with whatever they need.”
The PM is currently on the NSW Central Coast and plans to head back to Canberra this afternoon.
The PM wouldn’t answer questions about whether more backburning could have prevented the fires.
“The time to have those policy discussions are not in the middle of an operational response,” Mr Morrison told 2GB’s Ray Hadley.
“And whether it’s that [hazard reduction burning] or any other issue. It’s not that people don’t think those issues are important or need to be acknowledged – whatever issue we’re talking about, it’s just going to focus our efforts on the operational response that’s what people in the crisis areas need.”
Emily Ritchie 9.50am: Winds already reach 40km/h
Strong winds of up to 40km/h are already blowing across much of NSW, with weather balloons being deployed across the state to collect detailed analysis of weather systems as they develop into the afternoon.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 54 fires were currently burning across NSW, with 26 of them uncontained.
“Thankfully we have no reports of any new fires in any of the catastrophic or other total fire ban areas across the state,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said just after 9am.
“There are 30km plus winds being reported in the northern tableland and 40km/h plus in the central and southern tablelands. We are expecting those to continue to strengthen over the next couple of hours before we see the onset of the worst conditions into lunchtime and early afternoon.”
He said the RFS, in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology, had deployed numerous weather balloons to help get “more detailed analysis of weather systems and how that develops this afternoon”.
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the armed forces were on standby to assist in any way possible on Tuesday, and that a number of tactical backburning operations had already been executed to protect property across the state.
“We are hoping that backburning will limit the potential for fire spread paths today, but it would be tenuous at best and we’re not optimistic about the success of those fires potentially breaching and developing under today’s conditions.”
He said the “catastrophic” danger level recognised conditions that were “off the scale” of the old fire danger warning system that was updated in 2009.
“We are seeing conditions and therefore fire behaviour that is off the scale, that is what catastrophic recognises,” he said.
“Under these sorts of conditions, there is a significant amount of unpredictability, instability and aggressive fire behaviour and fire spread. Under days of catastrophic, if a fire starts and takes hold … it has the ability to develop and grow extremely quickly. And develop into very large fires and everything that comes with that. There is the potential for pyro-convective columns, localised weather storms and events, induced lightning – so we are talking about the worst possible conditions.
He said his firefighting personnel were as “prepared and ready as possible”.
The Commissioner will be holding briefings from the RFS headquarters every two hours on the hour, or sooner if any new information comes to light.
9.00am: How fire ratings are calculated
What is the difference between Severe, Extreme and Catastrophic fire ratings? The BoM’s weather expert Claire Yeo explains that it is a combination of the temperature, wind strength and relative humidity.
Watch her explanation here.
Wondering how Fire Danger Ratings are calculated, and what the different ratings actually mean? Bureau fire weather expert Claire Yeo explains. For the latest fire weather warnings check https://t.co/6R4IV6vqAH and always follow advice from emergency services. @nswrfs @QldFES pic.twitter.com/lvRyPFeZw4
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) November 11, 2019
Emily Ritchie 8.45am: ‘Time and place for climate talk’
Gladys Berejiklian has hit back at criticisms she is shutting down debate on climate change while NSW faces “catastrophic” fire danger for the first time in 10 years, saying there’s “a time and a place” for such discussions.
The NSW Premier said she understood why her deputy John Barilaro earlier this week called people attempting to talk about climate change amid the bushfire crisis “a bloody disgrace”.
“I don’t blame him for having those sentiments,” she told ABC Radio.
“I’m the first to say how concerned we all are about climate change but there’s a time and a place. My focus is to save lives and save properties. I’ve been speaking to traumatised people who are thinking about where they’re going to sleep that night so our focus has to be on supporting our communities, our firefighters and making sure resources are where they’re needed.”
Ms Berejiklian also disputed suggestions from the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union that Fire and Rescue NSW is being crippled by budget cuts, saying their claim there has been a cut of $12.9 million in the 2019/2020 budget was “completely wrong”.
“We dispute that figure enthusiastically,” she said. “We’ve actually provided record funding to all of our frontline agencies in emergency services. We’ve actually provided a record number of both capital funding and recurrent funding – whether it’s equipment, whether it’s resourcing new head offices or emergency centres. This is completely wrong. If you ask (NSW RFS) Commissioner Fitzsimmons he will tell you, as will the other agencies, that they’ve never been as well resourced as they are now and have been over the past few years.”
Ms Berejiklian said a “state of emergency” had been declared for the state, while assuring the people of NSW that “every precaution” was being taken ahead of catastrophic conditions.
“We have the largest voluntary firefighting organisation on the planet, extremely well-resourced and well-trained,” she said.
“The state of emergency is an extreme precautionary measure that invests power in the RFS commissioner to be able to force evacuations, seize assets and/or property and acquire anything he needs to be able to keep the community safe.”
Olivia Caisley 8.55am: Bandt wants Port Arthur like response
Greens MP Adam Bandt has seized on the “catastrophic” bushfires burning across Queensland and NSW, urging Scott Morrison to implement an urgent policy response to the blazes similar to that put in place after the Port Arthur Massacre.
Mr Bandt told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday the Prime Minister should make a National Climate Agreement and follow the lead of former prime minister John Howard, who announced a National Firearms Agreement in the wake of the 1996 massacre that claimed 35 lives.
Click here for the story in full
8.40am: What does state of emergency mean?
A state of emergency – in this state of catastrophic fire danger – gives the Rural Fire Service complete authority over other emergency services. The RFS has the authority to control government resources, shut down essential utilities such as electricity and take possession of property when needed. It also means residents must obey firefighters by law.
Today is going to be a very long and very dangerous day. A southerly change is expected later today but won't reach Sydney until tonight, and the north coast until tomorrow morning. This may push fires new directions, threatening lives and properties. #nswrfs #nswfires https://t.co/NQ8HmNcQGC
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
Emily Ritchie 8.15am: Blue Mountains ‘far worse’ than 2013
Weather conditions are “far worse” than they were leading up to the most recent bushfires to hit the NSW Blue Mountains region, according to the council mayor Mark Greenhill.
Mr Greenhill, who was also mayor in 2013 when devastating bushfires swept through the region and “destroyed 200 homes in a single afternoon”, said conditions in 2019 were worse.
“We’ve had a long dry leading into this and that makes all the difference,” Mr Greenhill told ABC Radio on Tuesday morning.
“Today we’re expecting high temperatures and high winds on top of that long dry which in my opinion far worse than it was in 2013. The fire rating today in the Blue Mountains is far worse.
My opinion is that the underlying conditions are worse than they were in 2013.”
He said his council was urging people to have a bushfire survival plan in place.
“People need to know what they will do and where they will be in the event something like this occurs,” he said.
While it may appear calm but smoky in many areas this morning, our weather experts are staying across conditions. They say we are "on track" for what was forecast. Dangerous day ahead. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/p51zVpfx1j
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
Jamie Walker 8.00am: Millions kept indoors as smokestorm hits
More than three million people in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich have been told to stay indoors as bushfire smoke wreathed the southeast Queensland population hubs, creating an “unprecedented” health hazard.
The state’s Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, said people should consider the consequences of being outside after air quality dipped to potentially harmful levels.
Her intervention came as firefighters battling dozens of blazes from the NSW border to central Queensland braced for searing conditions on Wednesday, ramping up the risk in tinder dry, drought-stricken reaches of the state.
Emily Ritchie 7.40am: 3000 firefighters deployed
More than 3000 firefighters have been deployed or are on standby to assist with “catastrophic” fire danger warnings across NSW on Tuesday, with emergency services reinforcements also being sent from interstate.
Premier @GladysB receiving a briefing on current fires and today’s dangerous fire conditions today. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/tDzx77rHsd
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 100 fire trucks had been sent north from Victoria to assist with firefighting efforts today, and there would be thousands more emergency service personnel – including police and ambulance – also on hand to help.
NSW Bushfires | There are concerns winds could push fires towards coastal areas including Coffs Harbour.@ursulaheger has the latest from Glen Innes in northern NSW. #NSWfires #NSWbushfires pic.twitter.com/fLkZgwaiQk
— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) November 11, 2019
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said there had not been any evacuation directive issued by the RFS, but residents in vulnerable, bushfire-prone areas were being urged to be on high alert, use their bushfire plan and head into town or local shopping centres away from immediate threat.
“We plan for these sorts of days but we always hope they never come,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said. “We are planned, we are prepared, we are escalated to a high level of standby and readiness, in anticipation of anything that might break out today.
“I just want to reassure the community that all that can be done is being done, all that needs to be done today will be done, and we need everybody to do their part.”
As a result of #bushfires on the North Coast, some regional coach and rail services have been cancelled. Affected services: https://t.co/obKjW7p5bq
— NSW TrainLink North (@TrainLinkNorth) November 11, 2019
Please delay any non-essential travel in this region, and contact us on 13 22 32 for critical regional travel enquiries.#nswfires https://t.co/pg7svBmPzi
He said people could “stay ahead” and receive the latest alerts by downloading the RFS app.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said it was a “particularly risky time” for people suffering from respiratory conditions, as smoke haze blanketed a vast area of the state.
Emily Ritchie 7.20am: Sydney evacuation centres open
Evacuation centres are being set up on Sydney’s north shore on Tuesday in response to the “catastrophic fire danger” warning issued across the region.
The following seven evacuation centres will be set up in the Ku-ring-gai Council area for residents as required:
East Lindfield Memorial Hall – 9 Wellington Rd, East Lindfield
Roseville Chase Community Hall – 7 Babbage Rd, Roseville
Lady Game Kindergarten – 43 Lady Game Dr, Lindfield
Presbyterian Church of Australia – 14 Stuart St, Wahroonga
St Andrews Anglican Church – 2 Water St, Wahroonga
Uniting Church Gordon – 18 Cecil St, Gordon
West Pymble Community Hall – 30 Loftberg Rd, West Pymble
Residents in bushfire prone regions are being urged to head to safer locations today, which the RFS suggests may be a large town or city, shopping centres or facilities well away from bushland.
More evacuation centres are expected to open in Sydney’s west throughout the day.
It's the day New South Wales firefighters have been fearing. Unprecedented catastrophic bushfire conditions forcing a statewide emergency. The crisis that has claimed 150 homes and three lives has now reached Sydney placing thousands of homes at risk. https://t.co/1v7oYmK7oL pic.twitter.com/vKAFAtPQ0D
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) November 11, 2019
7.10am: No relief from cold change
After a day of hot, dry and dusty winds, this evening’s cold front is unlikely to bring relief for residents and firefighters. Rather, the Bureau of Meteorologysays the cold front expected to sweep through in the early evening could see the intense flames quickly change direction.
Weatherzone Meteorologist Ben Domensino said the dry “southerly buster” will cause any fires burning near the NSW coast to “abruptly change direction,” pushing flames toward the coast and possibly resulting in fires merging..
Tuesday's dry 'southerly buster' will cause any fires burning near the NSW coast to abruptly change direction. The latest ACCESS-C model has the change reaching Sydney around 7pm. pic.twitter.com/LdWfWhrM4g
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) November 11, 2019
Two in a series of useful maps produced by the @NSWRFS tonight showing where some of the state’s existing fires are likely to spread on Tuesday. More maps here: https://t.co/Q9RenHwuKX Note that these predictions may change as new forecast data comes to hand. pic.twitter.com/902Vb6eqHY
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) November 11, 2019
Ean Higgins 6.55am: ‘We can’t save all of you’
Thousands of residents in NSW and Queensland remain on edge ahead of possible mass evacuations as bushfires of unprecedented scale tear across huge swathes of country, threatening city suburbs and regional towns.
In areas thought most at risk, authorities told residents to leave on Monday.
“We cannot guarantee a firetruck at every home,” Mr Fitzsimmons said. “We cannot guarantee that someone will knock on your door and give you a warning.”
Click here to read the story in full
6.40am: ADF personnel on standby
Up to 20,000 firefighters in NSW and Queensland are bracing for a ‘catastrophic’ day. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has said ADF personnel will be on standby to provide support. Hundreds of schools have been closed for the day, with Education Minister Sarah Mitchell saying “safety remains the number one priority”.
SCHOOL CLOSURES: Check education.nsw.gov.au/publicschools for closures.
#Fire Danger Ratings map for #NSW for today (Tues). @NSWRFS now has 3 areas listed as #Catastrophic. Important to note that while Greater #Sydney is listed as one, that area extends well beyond the city. In this case Greater Sydney stretches to the #BlueMountains & #CentralCoast pic.twitter.com/3jfCAfrAje
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) November 11, 2019
6.30am: Queensland Fire Weather Warning
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Fire Weather Warning for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast forecast districts.
Issued at 4:57am EST on Tuesday 12 November 2019.
Weather Situation Hot, dry, fresh and gusty west to north-westerly winds ahead of a surface trough are expected to produce Severe fire dangers today over the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast districts. Locally Severe fire dangers are also expected for the northeastern Maranoa and Warrego district. Locally Extreme fire dangers are also possible in the western Darling Downs and Granite Belt.
For the rest of Tuesday 12 November:
Severe Fire Danger is forecast for the following forecast districts: Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast
The Rural Fire Service Queensland advises you to: – Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now.
6.05am: ‘Most dangerous bushfire week in our history’
NSW is preparing for catastrophic and unprecedented conditions in what could be the most dangerous bushfire week in Australia’s history.
The state is facing a threat it has never seen before, Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said, adding: “I just hope we get through that OK.”
Tuesday's dry 'southerly buster' will cause any fires burning near the NSW coast to abruptly change direction. The latest ACCESS-C model has the change reaching Sydney around 7pm. pic.twitter.com/LdWfWhrM4g
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) November 11, 2019
A week-long state of emergency has been declared by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, as she pleaded with people to heed the warnings of the fire service and stay away from bushland.
Temperatures in the high 30s, low humidity and winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, coupled with the drought mean the state faces “horrendous conditions”, Mr Rogers said.
“We’ve just got town after town after town that will be under threat,” he told ABC News on Monday night.
“It’s a threat that we haven’t faced ever before and I just hope we get through that OK and hopefully we won’t have to deal with it again.”
All available resources will be thrown at the fires, he added. “We’ve got every firefighter we can get, we’ve got every aircraft we can get, we’ve got military aircraft coming in to help us to look at rescuing people if people are stuck.
“Absolutely everything we can do is being brought to bear.”
Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said residents face what “could be the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen”.
At 6am - 54 fires already burning, 25 uncontained. Catastrophic fire danger for Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra/Shoalhaven. Widespread severe and extreme fire danger. Today is a very dangerous day. Stay alert. Stay informed. Stay safe. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/hGN0v5hbBm
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019
There is an extreme fire danger rating – the second highest – in place for the North Coast, Southern Ranges, Central Ranges, New England, Northern Slopes and North Western areas.
At 6am on Tuesday, 54 fires were burning in NSW, 25 uncontained.
Fires since Friday have claimed the lives of three people and destroyed at least 150 homes.
In today’s bushfire news:
Senior Coalition and Labor MPs have launched a bitter attack on the Greens for suggesting climate change policies are responsible for the catastrophic bushfire threat confronting NSW and Queensland.
Thousands of residents in NSW and Queensland remain on edge ahead of possible mass evacuations as bushfires of unprecedented scale tear across huge swathes of country, threatening city suburbs and regional towns.
It was the bush that first enticed Matt Bath and his partner, Marina Schiewer, to build a life in the village of Wallabi, on the NSW mid-north coast, and a bushfire that has now seen them vow to move away for good.
The greenies have a lot to answer for over the incendiary state of the Australian bush. This is the view of Michael Balderstone, hemp candidate, deep environmentalist and leading figure in the Nimbin community, which is now beset by fire.
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