Firefighters set for tough weekend as Scott Morrison mulls compensation

Firefighters and ADF personnel across south eastern states are bracing for a dangerous weekend of bushfires.

Fire-fighters rescue a frightened koala from a bushfire at Bora Ridge in northern NSW.

Firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel across southeastern states are bracing for a dangerous weekend of bushfires, as Scott Morrison works on a package to compensate volunteer firefighters.

As extreme heat and high winds threaten homes and shut major highways, The Weekend Australian understands the Prime Minister is in discussion with state and territory leaders about rolling out financial compensation for unpaid firefighters. The move comes after intense scrutiny on state and federal governments’ responses to the bushfires, with both the Keating and Howard governments having offered a scheme paid as social security payments.

On Friday, NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott became the latest politician to be criticised for going on an overseas holiday during the crisis. Mr Elliott, who had postponed the family trip once before, said “if the bushfire situation should demand it, I will return home without hesitation”.

Eight people, including two firefighters, have died so far this season in NSW, with one further fatality from a fire in South Australia.

As temperatures soar above 40C in parts of NSW and SA into Monday, fires will potentially shut highways as holiday-makers drive between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

SA Country Fire Service duty commander Sam Quigley said the risk to holiday-makers on roads would “create significant concerns for the community”.

“This will test our control lines,” he said.

Extreme heat and winds will also sweep into Victoria and NSW on Saturday.

The heatwave will be followed by a cool change coming in from the south that will drive wild winds similar to those that saw fires in NSW and Victoria jump firebreaks and spread rapidly last week.

In Western Australia, an emergency warning was issued on Friday night for a bushfire burning in the Stirling Range National Park, in the state’s southern corner near Gnowangerup.

The alert warned residents that the blaze posed a “threat to homes and lives” and they would need to “act immediately to survive”.