Exhausted firefighters are battling to contain a “mega blaze” covering half-a-million hectares on the New South Wales-Victorian border.
Major fire fronts burning at East Ournie Creek and Dunns Road merged on Friday, creating a bushfire of enormous scale.
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed the massive blaze was burning in just one of several “red zones”, where people are in the most danger.
The two initially seperate fires were upgraded to watch and act level at 11am on Friday amid high temperatures and ferocious winds.
People in the state’s most at-risk regions have been urged to evacuate as extreme fire weather exacerbates the risk of more ongoing bushfires spreading and even merging.
It’s likely to be “long, difficult and potentially dangerous”, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned on Friday, as an estimated 2500 firefighters battle 134 fires including 53 which are uncontained across the state.
For further information on bushfires across eastern Australia or if you are concerned about family and friends, more information can be found at the following emergency services links:
- Live updates Victoria
- Live updates NSW
- Live updates South Australia
- Missing persons Red Cross
This isn’t a Salvador Dali painting, it’s a public pay phone melted by the bushfires in southern NSW. #AustralianBushfireDisaster #AustraliaFires pic.twitter.com/G9FAm4a6ev
— Taylor Auerbach (@tauerbach) January 9, 2020
An extreme fire warning is in place for the southern slopes while severe fire warnings have been issued for the Monaro alpine region, the ACT, southern ranges and eastern Riverina.
New South Wales
NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers raised concerns residents in fire zones have become “fire fatigued”, saying there’s no room for complacency.
“I think there’s a point where people across the state have been dealing with this for five months now,” Mr Rogers told Sky News.
With the end of this fire season still months away, he urged affected communities to “just hold on a little bit longer”.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was pictured among a group of volunteer firefighters at Adaminaby, near the Snowy Mountains, where a fire is burning out of control.
RFS briefing in Adaminaby. Tony Abbott among crews about to be deployed. #nswfirss @NSWRFS @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/CZhsdPEYEQ
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) January 10, 2020
Mr Abbott, whose been helping the NSW RFS with its bushfire-fighting efforts, spoke about this “long” and “arduous” fire season.
“I’m one of 70,000 RFS volunteers, let’s hope all of us stay safe and do good work,” he said.
He joined volunteers preparing to fight bushfires south of Canberra.
Building Impact Assessment teams continue working through fire affected areas, to assess property damage. So far 1,995 homes destroyed, over 23,000 buildings saved. 1,079 homes lost since 1 Jan. This figure is likely to increase. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/ywovziMy0l
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 9, 2020
Victoria
In the Victorian isolated community of Combienbar, a helicopter flew evacuated residents to safety after an uncontained fire travelling south-west impacted the region on Friday afternoon.
Anyone that did not leave before 2pm faced life-threatening conditions, authorities warned.
Evacuate now warnings were in place for 17 other regions across Victoria.
EVACUATE NOW in place for Brookside, Buckland, Buffalo Creek, Buffalo River, Dunphys Hill, Eurobin, Freeburgh, Harrietville, Merriang, Mount Buffalo, Salt Log, Selwyn, Smoko, Wandiligong, Buckland Junction, Merriang South & Germantown. See: https://t.co/OCECpR5g6f#vicfires pic.twitter.com/GZkbegpp7G
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) January 10, 2020
South Australia
After a brutal night for emergency services trying to control two out-of-control fires in Kangaroo Island, warning levels for all all fires were reduced to a watch and act after rain brought some much-needed relief on Friday.
Assessments are now underway, but some homes are believed lost at Vivonne Bay while the town of Parndana was spared, despite fire bearing down on it from several directions.
Two Country Fire Service trucks were involved in burn-overs and two more CFS personnel were injured, taking the total hurt on Kangaroo Island to 22.
Western Australia
Emergency services in Perth remained on high alert on Friday as fire crews battled a large bushfire that burned through paddocks and rural properties in the city’s south.
There were fears the fire would breach containment lines and approach the city’s major freeway due to strong winds.
So far, more than 1200 hectares have been burnt as about 180 firefighters work to contain the fire.
A watch and act remains in place for Mundijong, Hopeland, Oldbury, Mardella, Serpentine, Baldivis, Wellard and Cardup.
Fire conditions in NSW are expected to gradually ease early on Saturday as temperatures drop in the wake of the southerly change, Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Grahame Reader said.
“There will be showers and isolated thunderstorms in coastal parts and adjacent ranges.
“These are probably not significant falls. There could be heavier falls locally but that won’t be widespread.”
-with agencies
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