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The Guardian - AU
National
Josh Taylor (now) and Luke Henriques-Gomes, Naaman Zhou (earlier)

Winds fan flames as blazes destroy properties in Lithgow – as it happened

Fire and Rescue personnel run from a blaze near homes on the outskirts of Bilpin in New South Wales.
Fire and Rescue personnel run from a blaze near homes on the outskirts of Bilpin in New South Wales. Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

The day

We are going to end the live blog here for the night. We will be back in the morning, but here’s a summary of what has happened today.

A day of catastrophic conditions, high-40s temperatures and mass road closures.

  • Emergency-level fires were issued across three states: NSW, South Australia and Victoria.
  • In SA, a second person was confirmed killed, and one seriously injured, in the Adelaide Hills. A man also died in a car crash yesterday at Lameroo. SA premier Steve Marshal confirmed the man was a 24-year old from Queensland, and the crash itself started a fire that injured a resident.
  • 23 firefighters were also injured, one seriously.
  • Five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles have been destroyed.
  • In Victoria, the Marthavale fire in East Gippsland quadrupled in size overnight, growing so large it created its own weather.
  • The Brookville and Tambo Crossing, Wattle Circle, Stirling fires went to emergency warning levels but were downgraded on Saturday night
  • In NSW, the huge Gospers Mountain blaze and the Green Wattle Creek fire both returned to emergency after easing overnight
  • There are four fires at emergency warning level: Gospers Mountain, Currowan fire, Owendale, and Upper Turon, Palmers Oaky.
  • The Green Wattle Creek fire was downgraded to watch and act late on Saturday evening, with rain.
  • The massive Gospers Mountain fire crossed Bells Line of Rd in Bilpin today, and has reportedly destroyed at least six homes in Lithgow.
  • A strong southerly came through in the evening but while temperatures dropped, it caused the fires to behave erratically.
  • Most of the major roads that closed during the day have reopened but people are being urged to delay Christmas travel.
  • Prime minister Scott Morrison is believed to have landed back in Sydney tonight. His office has told reporters he is back, but he hasn’t been spotted since the flight landed around 8pm AEDT tonight. He was spotted early this morning still in Hawaii
  • Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said there had been no transparency around the trip, and “media enquiries were met with misinformation, at best” after the PM’s office initially told reporters he was not in Hawaii
  • The NSW RFS has set up a dedicated donations fund for the families of two firefighters who died on Thursday after their truck overturned near the Green Wattle Creek fireground.

Stay safe, everyone.

Updated

Brookville fire in Victoria downgraded to watch and act.

The federal government is extending the emergency payments to people affected by fires in the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, and Singleton.

We now have three fires at emergency warning level in New South Wales: Currowan fire, Gospers Mountain fire, and Upper Turon Rd, Palmers Oaky

Amid all that rain, the Green Wattle Creek fire has been downgraded to watch and act.

Here’s the latest on the road closures in NSW from AAP:

Transport for NSW on Saturday evening reopened the Hume Motorway between Sutton Forest and Narellan, as well as the Picton Road at the M1 and the Princes Highway between Falls Creek and north of Milton.

In the Blue Mountains, the Great Western Highway earlier reopened in both directions between Katoomba and Lithgow but the Bells Line of Road and Chifley Road are closed between Kurrajong and Lithgow.

Stretches of Megalong Road, Jenolan Caves Road, the Castlereagh Highway and Bowen Mountain Road remain shut.

Train lines between Campbelltown and Moss Vale, to the south, and westwards between Katoomba and Bathurst have also been impacted.

What a sight - rain! From Mike Bowers at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo.

RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. Mikaela Kramer from the Glenbrook-Lapstone dances in the rain 21st December 2019.
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. Mikaela Kramer from the Glenbrook-Lapstone dances in the rain 21st December 2019. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. 21st December 2019.
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. 21st December 2019. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. Mikaela Kramer from the Glenbrook-Lapstone dances in the rain 21st December 2019.
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo NSW tonight as it starts to rain. Mikaela Kramer from the Glenbrook-Lapstone dances in the rain 21st December 2019. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Rain at the Green Wattle Creek fire, my colleague Mike Bowers reports.

Just a sense of how close it is to Lithgow.

The fires in Lithgow, New South Wales on December 21, 2019
The fires in Lithgow, New South Wales on December 21, 2019 Photograph: RFS

Daily Telegraph reporting on the locations of the six homes lost in Lithgow.

There are total fire bans in place from midnight tonight for the Northern Slopes and North Western areas of NSW.

Some more photos from Kurrajong.

Fire trucks are everywhere as the the fire front approaches Kurrajong Heights Bowling Club, NSW 21 December 2019.
Fire trucks are everywhere as the the fire front approaches Kurrajong Heights Bowling Club, NSW 21 December 2019. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
A firefighter stretches at the truck near Kurrajob Heights Bowling Club in NSW
A firefighter stretches at the truck near Kurrajob Heights Bowling Club in NSW Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
The fire front at Kurrajong Bowling Club, NSW
The fire front at Kurrajong Bowling Club, NSW Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Scott Morrison returns from holiday

The flight the PM was believed to be on has landed in Sydney from Hawaii.

Obviously it’ll be a while before we see anything from him. I’m guessing there will probably be journalists waiting at the airport for him.

Updated

That strong southerly is going to continue to have a big impact on the fires as RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said earlier. It’s going to be a long night.

On road closures, the Great Western Highway is open. The Hume Highway is due to open in the next half an hour, and the Princes Highway is due to open soon.

Victor Highway is due to open, too, but a couple of local roads, including Bells Line of Rd will remain closed. People can check Traffic Live for the most current information.

Updated

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s flight back from Hawaii is about to land, according to this. It’s been circling the airport because of the wind conditions in Sydney.

Fitzsimmons says a number of roads remain closed, but RFS will work with police to get those roads open when it is safe to do so, so people can travel.

He confirms one man is missing in the Dargan area. He said firefighters spoke to the man this morning, and he said he wants to stay there. His property has been enveloped in fire and he can’t be found now.

There’s been multiple injuries including a firefighter hit by a vehicle on the Bells Line of Rd. He is okay, but may have a fracture.

A number of other lacerations, injuries, and heat-related problems, but no serious injuries, Fitzsimmons says.

We have an update from RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

He says the southerly is having a big impact on the Gospers Mountain fire on towns along the Bells Line of Rd in Bilpin and the surrounding areas.

He says there are reports from multiple fire grounds of properties being damaged and destroyed. He says the numbers could be in the dozens. There are still hours to go with this strong southerly.

“It’s going to take a long time for that behaviour to settle down... We’ve got a long night ahead.”

Just a quick update on the situation as on 7pm AEDT:

  • There are four fires at emergency warning level in New South Wales: Currowan fire, Gospers Mountain fire, Green Wattle Creek and Upper Turon Rd, Palmers Oaky
  • The Gospers Mountain fire is threatening Lithgow and Bilpin on the Bells Line of Rd in the Blue Mountains in particular, but there are many fronts
  • A strong southerly change is dropping temperatures across NSW, but is making fire behave erratically
  • Two emergency warnings in Victoria for fires in Tambo Crossing, Wattle Circle, Stirling, and Brookville
  • A couple of fires in South Australia are at a watch and act level, but one man died in a car crash and one was critically injured.

You can see in this 7News report how the strong winds are carrying the fire over Bells Line of Road in Bilpin.

New South Wales RFS is reporting one person unaccounted for in the Dargan area near Lithgow.

Updated

Southerly change moving across Sydney

The strong southerly change Luke mentioned before is making its way across Sydney. But while it is leading to a quick drop in temperatures, it will cause the fires to behave erratically.

Updated

My colleague Jessica Hromas is out at the fires in Kurrajong.

Fire chief Greg Hodges, of RFS northern beaches
Fire chief Greg Hodges, of RFS northern beaches, assesses the fire from Kurrajong, in the Hawkesbury region of NSW. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
The view of a bushfire from Kurrajong Heights
The view of a bushfire from Kurrajong Heights. Photograph: Jessica Hromas
Firefighters in Kurrajong Heights
Firefighters in Kurrajong Heights. Photograph: Jessica Hromas

Updated

ABC is reporting at least five homes in Lithgow have been destroyed. We have not confirmed this yet.

Updated

An emergency warning has been issued for Brookville in Victoria.

The bushfire at Barmouth Spur is travelling northerly towards Brookville and embers are falling in Brookville, threatening homes.

Updated

Josh Taylor here, taking over for Luke as we head into the evening.

Updated

The bushfires are creating thunderstorms at the Currowan and Tianjara fires in the Shoalhaven, which is just awful.

My colleague Graham Redfearn wrote about this phenomena yesterday. Graham explained that scientists are afraid the climate crisis will lead to a surge of these violent thunderstorms, known as PyroCBs.

PyroCBs are able to generate their own lightning strikes, mass downdrafts of air, gusty winds and even hail blackened with soot. The plumes generated from pyroCBs can influence the atmosphere at heights of up to 15km.

Embers still hot enough to start new fires can be shot out of a pyroCB at distances of 30km from the main fire.

Updated

Blackheath resident Robert Smith told the Guardian how he left his home in the town after the fires neared.

We were advised to leave our home in northern Blackheath about 3pm. Police had set up a road block in our street to keep people away, except residents, as emergency fire trucks charged towards the fire in Grose Valley.

Giant plumes of smoke were visible, we didn’t see flames. It was considered best for us to leave early. We were intending to stay to combat ember attacks but we didn’t see any before the fire escalated with the strengthening wind.

Traffic was minimal and orderly to Katoomba on Great Western Highway, although west-bound traffic was stopped by police to allow flashing emergency vehicles to tear west to Blackheath, Mt Victoria and Lithgow. We are waiting to see the cooler southerly change take effect before hopefully heading back later this evening.

Updated

Here is a look at the water bombing effort Mike Bowers relayed to me earlier.

A helicopter water bomber at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Yanderra, NSW
A helicopter water bomber at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Yanderra, NSW. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Yanderra, NSW
RFS crews fight a fire at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Yanderra, NSW. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
A helicopter water bomber at the Green Wattle Creek fire
A helicopter water bomber at the Green Wattle Creek fire. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

Guardian Australia photographer Mike Bowers tells me crews at Yanderra, south of Bargo, have been keeping conditions at bay there. Five or six water bombers have been repeatedly dumping deluge after deluge as they fight to protect homes.

Updated

For those of you outside of New South Wales, Lithgow is a town of about 12,000 people in the Central Tablelands region of the state. It’s about two hours’ drive west of Sydney.

More from out of Lithgow from the local paper, the Bathurst Bulletin.

And the RFS posted this earlier.

We’re in Kurrajong Heights, where a strike team is setting up ahead of a fire front just on the other side of the hill.

The sky is dark, and it is eerily still, with ash falling from the sky.

“The parts we’re worried about being impacted are along here, and a road behind us,” says Greg, who’s leading the strike team here.

“At the moment the rush is not as great as what we thought it was … It’s about a km away.”

Asked if this is the main point of concern, Greg says “it’s everywhere”.

“There’s multiple points. It just continues to spot and we can’t stop it.”

It’s incredibly still now. Greg laughs.

“When you’re still that’s when you worry. It’s the calm before the storm. Fires will make their own weather and when they haven’t joined together and had the bonfire effect and there’s a distance between them, usually the main fire front will make its own weather and start driving itself. Which means it sucks all the air from the surrounding areas.

“So if it’s quiet and still, that’s when the worry is.”

Ashleigh Coskerie and Jonathon Evripidou live just down the hill. Andrew Helwig is their neighbour.

The three have stayed to fight off ember attacks and spot fires on their houses.

“It’s looking pretty bad,” says Evripidou. “If it comes through it’s going to get 10 times worse, I know that.

“It’s just a waiting game.”

Coskerie says they heard their street over the scanner radio and had a moment of panic, but they feel better with so many crews outside.

“We feel safer now we’ve got all the guys in the street… They’re right there if, you know.”

Updated

And some more.

Awful scenes coming out of Lithgow right now.

Now, Bowers says he is in Yanderra, near Bargo and fire is about to impact on properties there.

Updated

Guardian Australia’s photographer-at-large Mike Bowers was at Bargo, where he says the latest RFS temperature report had it at 41C.

Updated

We are in Richmond where smoke is extraordinarily thick and the RFS’s 737 Large Air Tanker is doing laps overhead, bombing the fire just a few suburbs away.

The Richmond club is acting as the evacuation centre. There hasn’t been an evacuation centre declared officially for this area yet and people are a bit confused about where they are supposed to go, but people are welcome at the Richmond club and many have just shown up with pets and family having left their homes either as a precaution or fleeing the fire.

A couple has arrived with seven cats, and another man came down from Mount Bowen on his bike, we’re told.

Mary Lyons-Buckett is the deputy mayor of Hawkesbury, and tells us people are mainly coming from Bilpin, Mount Bowen – which was recently evacuated – and Kurrajong and Kurrajong Heights.

“Our local fire brigades, many of them went up north and have been fighting the fires in Port Macquarie and so on, and they have been fighting this fire in the valley for a good four or five weeks.”

“From a community perspective there are really heightened emotions, people are tearful just speaking about it even if they aren’t affected.”

In that press conference, RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also confirmed that those Blue Mountains fires are now moving towards the populated Blackheath and Mt Victoria areas.

Many residents say they are preparing to evacuate, and pictures have certainly showed the fire conditions there worsening in the past hour or two.

Looking to the coming days and weeks ahead, BOM spokeswoman says there were be thunderstorms during Christmas Eve but that won’t be “significant for fire dampening”. Air quality in the Sydney area will improve to “fair” tomorrow, rather than “hazardous” as it has been today.

Asked when NSW can expect sustained rainfall, the spokeswoman says there is nothing significant forecast for the next month or two.

Fitzsimmons also said that so far in greater Sydney area conditions had not quite reached “catastrophic”.

“A couple of hours to go, hopefully we don’t get there.,” he says.

But Fitzsimmons adds: “Today has been an awful day. We have seen property impacted and lost.”

Updated

Morgan also says that paramedics have received six reports of children locked in cars of the past week, which has diverted them from other work.

Updated

Dominic Morgan from Ambulance NSW says there are reports of four fire fighters who have suffered heat exhaustion. Their conditions range from minor to “quite severe”.

Fitzsimmons notes the smoke that has engulfed the greater Sydney area has effectively served as an “insulator”. He says that has been “preventing some of the temperatures getting as high we might have thought for this time of the day which is a good thing”.

Fitzsimmons says there will be improved – that is, milder – conditions including a dramatic temperature drop after today.

Having said that, conditions are such that tomorrow, a couple of total fire bans for the northern area of New South Wales reflect the the local combination of hot, dry and windy conditions. We will not get on top of these fires until we get some decent rain, we have said that for weeks and months.

Updated

Hi there, Luke Henriques-Gomes here again taking over from Naaman. I’m sure I speak for all of you when I say thanks for your work here today, Naaman.

Fitzsimmons says there are no reports of serious injuries. One firefighter needed treatment at the fire near Balmoral.

There are also reports of homes being damaged or destroyed near Lithgow and reports of fires approaching buildings in Balmoral.

NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is providing a briefing as we speak. There are new fires, including south of Nowra, and another south of Tumut which began around noon. It’s believed that fire was sparked by a torched car.

He says major roads impacted by the fires include the Princes highway heading south, the Hume highway heading south from Sydney, and the Great Western highway heading out of Sydney.

Updated

The SA premier, Steven Marshall, has cancelled his own planned Christmas holiday, according to AAP.

Marshall had been scheduled to leave this week for a holiday in New Zealand. But he said today he would stay in Adelaide while the fire emergency was active.

“My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays,” he said earlier. “It’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.”

Updated

There are reports now that NSW departmental employees have been telling people at evacuation centres not to speak to media.

That’s even if the residents are happy to talk.

The ABC’s Isobel Roe, Selby Stewart and Rhett Burnie have all shared their experiences of this happening yesterday.

Staff at the centres were welcoming, they clarify.

Updated

AAP reports that tonight’s Big Bash match in Canberra may be called off due to smoke.

Haze resulting from bushfires will be discussed in the pre-match medical briefing at Manuka Oval, where the game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers is slated to start at 6.10pm AEDT, AAP reports.

If visibility is too poor and/or Air Quality Index (AQI) data is too alarming, then play will not go ahead. The pre-match briefing at Manuka Oval is due to take place at 5.10pm AEDT on Saturday night.

Updated

In weather news, the southerly has come through Nowra. It will reach Sydney at 5pm, the Hunter region at 8pm and the mid-north coast closer to midnight.

This will change wind directions and worsen fires, the RFS and bureau say.

SA veterinarians say it is “horrendous” in the state as they rescue wildlife, reports Royce Kurmelovs.

The South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (Savem) is a response and recovery agency for Australian wildlife that has been activated by the South Australian government.

Savem is a volunteer group of veterinarians who work to rescue and treat wildlife caught up in bushfires.

Dr Rachel Westcott, the groups’s coordinator, said she had two staff doing reconnaissance today, with two strike teams of 25 or 30 people to be sent out tomorrow when access to the area has been permitted by the CFS.

“It’s horrendous – it’s very bad,” she said. “I have not been out there yet. I’m a practising vet, so I’m wrapping up my work today so I can be there tomorrow. We have our operations manager and nursing coordinator surveying the situation.”

Updated

An updated emergency warning from Victoria: properties are now impacted in Tambo Crossing.

The fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction and impacting private property in Tambo Crossing, the CFA says.

“The Great Alpine Road is closed between Ensay and Bruthen. If you are leaving from the Ensay area, travel north towards Omeo on the Great Alpine Road.”

Updated

And the Tianjara fire has now changed direction.

The southerly change has crossed the firegound and it is now moving north towards Terpentine Road.

For those in Wandandian and Jerrawangala, it is too late to leave.

Updated

Six fires at emergency level in NSW

There are six fires currently at emergency level in NSW, after conditions worsened this afternoon.

The Grose Valley fire and Upper Turon Road fires were upgraded 20 minutes ago to emergency.

At the Grose Valley fire, fire activity is increasing along Hat Hill Road in Blackheath. Fire activity is increasing all across the Upper Turon Road fireground and there is a risk of ember attack near Razorback Road and Cherry Tree Hill.

The Currowan fire is increasing in both the north-east (Fishermans Paradise and Cunjurong Point) and south-west (Braidwood) corners of the fire.

At the same time, the Green Wattle Creek fire, which was already at emergency, is approaching Yanderra.

Updated

McCormack also confirms that Morrison will arrive back in Australia today.

“He is on his way back to the country and that is a good thing,” he says. “No-one could have envisaged the week we have had.

“Everyone is entitled to holiday – many people, not just politicians, take a break. He will be back today.”

McCormack: 'We can do more on climate change'

Michael McCormack is asked if he believes we can do more to combat climate change.

“Yes, I do,” he says.

But he says the important thing for now is “to put fires out”.

He also says climate change is not the only factor. Other factors include lighting and even “self-combusting horse manure” – a point he made on Thursday as well.

“For those running around saying we should abandon coal right now, what are we going to do with our electricity over summer if we shut them all down today? Coal provides almost two-thirds of our energy needs.”

As for the coalition of former fire chiefs, including Greg Mullins, who are urging action on climate change and a shift to renewables, McCormack says: “Let’s remember they are funded by Tim Flannery.”

But he agrees we do need more action on climate change – “whatever that may be”, in the words of the reporter.

Updated

Hi all, Naaman Zhou back here. Thanks to Luke Henriques-Gomes for his work on the blog just then.

Michael McCormack fronted the media in Wagga Wagga earlier. The ABC is broadcasting the press conference now.

Updated

Littleproud is also asked whether Australia should do more to combat climate change. He says the government is committed to meeting the Paris targets. When asked if, yes or no, the government believes more can be done, he dodges the question.

But Littleproud says climate change has “been a contributing factor” to the current fires.

You might remember these comments he made on the same topic three months ago.

Littleproud has defended Scott Morrison for going on holiday to Hawaii during the fire crisis.

Asked if he would have gone on holidays to Hawaii, Littleproud says: “The reality is the operational management of fires sits with the state governments and they do an exemplary job.

“We need to get out of their hair at times. There comes times when too many politicians are around.”

David Littleproud, the minister for natural disaster and emergency management, is at Sydney airport awaiting the arrival of firefighters from Canada who will be on the ground helping their Australian counterparts from Sunday morning.

Pressed on whether firefighting resources are adequate, Littleproud acknowledges that if the fires carry on, “we are going to continue to be stretched”.

The 30 Canadian firefighters will be joining nine from the United States who are also assisting the effort in NSW.

Updated

Another dispatch from Royce Kurmelovs in Adelaide:

Denis Noble, 76, spent yesterday fighting bushfires near his home in Charleston in the Adelaide Hills. Denis and his wife had only moved into the property a week ago when they watched the blaze come over the hill in the morning and slowly engulf the paddock across the road from his house.

Their neighbours, who are in their 30s and 40s, helped fight the blaze.

“It came slowly, inexorably towards us,” Denis said. “We’re oldies. They’re full of energy and tearing around with buckets. Everybody pitched in to stop the fire and it stopped at the roadway. It was a good way to get to know the new neighbours.”

The bushfires seen from Basket Range CFS
The bushfires seen from Basket Range CFS. Photograph: Andrew Noble

Denis’s son, Andrew, who also works as a paramedic, has been fighting the Cudlee Creek fires with the CFS as part of the Basket Range CFS brigade, which are currently deployed around Birdwood.

This morning Denis and his wife drove into Stirling as the power to their property had been cut and there was no mobile service. On the way they drove past two properties that had been destroyed.

“It was devastating to see,” Denis said. “We saw at least two houses that were just a pile of wreckage. It breaks your heart to see that, because you know it’s been someone’s residence for quite some time and you don’t like to think of what they lost.”

The fires seen from Basket Range CFS
The fires seen from Basket Range CFS. Photograph: Andrew Noble

Updated

An emergency warning has been issued for the fire at Tianjara, south-west of Nowra.

The NSW RFS says: “The fire is burning towards Wandandian and Jerrawangala. It is too late to leave – seek shelter. Sussex Inlet Road is now closed. It is too dangerous to leave.”

Residents in Sussex Inlet are being urged to remain there. “There is no immediate threat to Sussex Inlet,” the RFS says.

Updated

Hi all, it’s Luke Henriques-Gomes here. I’ll be taking over from Naaman while he has a well-earned break.

If you want to bring something to my attention, please send me an email at luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or get in touch on Twitter (@lukehgomes).

A frank exchange of views here on Sunrise about Scott Morrison’s holiday to Hawaii.

“He decides to apologise yesterday. I didn’t think he had any reason to apologise to anyone,” says 2GB’s Chris Smith.

“Hawaii, that strip in Honolulu is so small, if you want to see someone who is in Hawaii, you just go to that strip and see them. It’s a very small place.”

Smith declares it “the biggest beat-up I have seen in 40 years”.

Gretel Killeen says she is “gobsmacked” at both Smith and host Bazil Zempilas’s opinion.

“I am confounded at what your understanding of leadership is?” she asks.

“Chris, yelling at me will not convince me. The majority of the country agrees ... the surveys show that.”

Updated

Protesters have gathered for a second day outside Kirribilli House in Sydney.

Many are holding placards and posters attacking the prime minister for inaction on climate change and a lack of leadership during this week’s bushfire crisis. Protesters are chanting: “The oceans are rising, no more compromising.”

Protesters also gathered on Thursday, when 13-year-old Izzy Raj-Seppings was given a move-on order from police.

Police and protesters outside Scott Morrison’s offical residence at Kirribilli House
Police and protesters outside Scott Morrison’s offical Sydney residence at Kirribilli House. Photograph: Sammy Munk/The Guardian

Updated

The day so far

A day of catastrophic conditions, high-40s temperatures and mass road closures has so far panned out as authorities feared.

  • Emergency-level fires are blazing across three states: NSW, South Australia and Victoria.
  • In SA, a second person was confirmed killed, and one seriously injured, in the Adelaide Hills. A man also died in a car crash yesterday at Lameroo. SA premier Steve Marshal confirmed the man was a 24-year old from Queensland, and the crash itself started a fire that injured a resident.
  • 23 firefighters were also injured, one seriously.
  • SA firefighters still have up to 100 properties or calls to follow up on to see if others are affected.
  • A fire on Kangaroo Island remains at emergency, while the Cudlee Creek fire was downgraded to watch and act.
  • Five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles have been destroyed.
  • In Victoria, the Marthavale fire in East Gippsland quadrupled in size overnight, growing so large it created its own weather. It is still at emergency level.
  • There are two emergency warnings in place: for Ensay, Reedy Flat, Stirling and Holstons; and Tambo Crossing, Wattle Circle and Stirling.
  • In NSW, the huge Gospers Mountain blaze and the Green Wattle Creek fire both returned to emergency after easing overnight.
  • The NSW premier and police have told residents to please delay travel: “Today is not the day to start your holiday.”
  • Prime minister Scott Morrison is scheduled to return to Australia by tonight, but was spotted at 7am AEDT still in Hawaii.
  • Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said there had been no transparency around the trip, and “media enquiries were met with misinformation, at best” after the PM’s office initially told reporters he was not in Hawaii.
  • The NSW RFS has set up a dedicated donations fund for the families of two firefighters who died on Thursday after their truck overturned near the Green Wattle Creek fireground.

Updated

Also in Lexton, this dispatch from the local camel sanctuary.

The Lithgow area of the Gospers Mountain fire is now also at emergency.

Fire activity is increasing in Bell, Clarence and Dargan. A few minutes ago, an emergency alert was issued for between Bilpin and Kurrajong Heights.

The Gospers Mountain fire is a very large fire with many fronts, and conditions vary in different areas.

Updated

Green Wattle Creek Fire at emergency

The Green Wattle Creek fire – one of the fiercest fires this week – is back at emergency.

There are now two fires at emergency in NSW.

Two firefighters died on Thursday when their truck overturned on the way to the Green Wattle Creek fire, and two were seriously injured in a separate incident the same day when flames jumped into tree tops and overwhelmed their crew.

Updated

The Marthavale fire in Victoria, which quadrupled in size overnight, became so big it began “generating its own weather”, the State Control Centre’s Luke Heagerty told the ABC.

“This fire was large enough to be generating some of its own weather … and was driving itself along purely with the energy created by the fire,” he said.

And elsewhere, in Lexton in the state’s west, residents have shared stories of the evacuation.

Julie Garden, the owner of the Stag Hotel, told the ABC: “It was a bit scary but we were OK. There were a lot of cars going to the football club and everyone was up and about hanging around for a while to see what was going to happen. We could just see a lot of smoke.”

Avoca Milk Bar owner Karan Verma said: “We closed around 8.30pm and at 10pm a woman called up crying.”

Updated

And this frightening footage from Adelaide.

As poster Lucky Tran says: “Thousands of expats are now returning home to Australia for the holidays and seeing sights like this from the plane. Incredibly heartbreaking.”

The Gospers Mountain fire covers a very large area, and emergency warnings and conditions will vary in different parts of the area.

The most dangerous area now is from Bilpin to Kurrajong Heights.

Fire activity is increasing here, on the southern side of Bells Line of Road, the RFS says. The path is clear to Richmond, and a safer location is the Richmond Club on East Market Street.

The threat has eased at Lithgow, Hermitage Flat, McKellars Park and Cobar Park.

But people in all areas should be aware that embers can start spot fires ahead of the main fire front, and conditions can change.

The predicted fire spread map is here. Many roads remain closed.

Updated

Gospers Mountain has flared back to emergency level.

It was burning at emergency level earlier this morning, before being downgraded to wach and act. The huge fire, burning over 459,848 hectares, is now back to emergency.

Some parts of NSW will hit the mid 40s today, including the Sydney metropolitan, the bureau of meteorology says.

Meanwhile the smoke is thick in Canberra, and there is not much rain forecast for the future.

Updated

Firefighters across NSW are working today despite the grief of losing two of their colleagues and friends on Thursday.

Flags were flown at half-mast on Friday after the two young fathers, Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, were killed when their truck turned over near the Green Wattle Creek fire.

Their brigade, the Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade, is already back on firegounds.

“In true Horsley Park spirit, our crew are heading out today as part of a Cumberland Zone Strike Team in memory of Geoff and Andrew,” the Horsley Park RFS posted on Facebook.

Updated

'Today is not the day to start your holiday' – NSW police

NSW police are speaking now. Bells Line of Road, in the Blue Mountains, is closed and they do not know when it will be reopened.

Train lines between McCarthur and Moss Vale are closed. Buses are running to replace them, but in some areas buses cannot enter.

The Princes Highway going south is still open at this stage.

“We really appreciate the public heeding calls to delay travel,” a police spokeswoman says. It has helped police and firefighters cope, she says.

“Today is not the day to start your holiday. Delay your travel until tomorrow.”

Updated

From Royce Kurmelovs in Adelaide:

SA Water are reporting that water has been restored to the Adelaide Hills region overnight.

Water stopped flowing to some towns within the evacuation zone as SA power networks conducted a planned shutdown of the electricity supply as the blaze spread. This cut off power to the pumps, which stopped water from flowing, though no one is expected to have been affected.

SA water crews have set up back-up generators that will see water return to Lenswood, Lobethal, Woodside and surrounding areas today. In the meantime, a temporary supply of water remains available for customers to collect opposite the Oakbank Hotel, 207 Onkaparinga Valley Road, Oakbank.

Updated

SA premier Steven Marshall ended that press conference by saying: “My focus at the moment is not on my Christmas holidays, it’s trying to make sure we get through this difficult period.”

Prominent racing identity John Glatz was also taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the SA premier said. The ABC is reporting that Glatz’s friends and family said he was in a serious condition.

Also in that press conference, CFS chief Mark Jobs said a dry lightning storm sparked eight separate fires on Kangaroo Island yesterday. That fire is now expected to burn for many more days.

CFS crews have been bolstered by metropolitan fire services today as well.

Updated

Twenty-three firefighters injured in South Australia, one seriously

Twenty-three firefighters were injured yesterday, one seriously.

CFS chief Mark Jobs confirmed the injured firefighter was seriously hurt and remained in hospital.

“Against the catastrophic conditions and the backdrop of unprecedented challenge, it is remarkable so few of the firefighters and emergency responders were injured,” he said. “And I’m grateful that none seem to have been terribly so.”

He said the Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills had burned through 25,000 hectares by 8am this morning.

“Three CFS trucks were burned out yesterday.”

Updated

Second person killed in South Australia

SA police have confirmed that a person has died in the Charleston area in the Adelaide Hills and another is injured. Yesterday, a man died in a car crash near Lameroo.

Police are also in the process of visiting the area to see if any others are affected. There are 90 to 100 properties or calls they are following up on, police commissioner Grant Stevens says.

“Indications are at this stage that it may be a tree on power lines” that sparked it and the fire is not suspicious.

SA premier Steve Marshall confirmed that five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles had been destroyed.

Stevens says 27 tier-1 road closures are currently in place across the state. “Tier-1 road closures mean only emergency services personnel are able to enter those locations,” he says.

Updated

From Adelaide, correspondent Royce Kurmelovs has the latest:

CFS crews have battled the flames in the Adelaide Hills well into the night as the fire has burnt unchecked across 25,000 hectares. While conditions eased overnight, those flying into Adelaide could see the flames from the air as the fire burned out of control.

The area of Cudlee Creek is rough terrain, which has made the blaze difficult to control, while the extreme conditions of previous days has given it more ferocity. The blaze was downgraded to Watch and Act at 5am, though windy conditions this morning mean it remains uncontained.

Residents of the area have been left with a nervous wait for news of their homes, with reports of many having been lost. Road closures remain in effect as large trees are blocking roads, while the ground continues to smoulder even in areas which may appear clear.

A community meeting will be held at the Oakbank area school at 1.30pm and while there is no available information about property damage, the CFS will be deploying rapid damage assessment teams today to take stock.

Meanwhile, the blaze sparked by a lightning strike on Kangaroo Island continues to burn. The CFS says there are “quite a few” fires burning in the area and that a reconnaissance flight is planned for today to assess the situation.

Updated

Fundraiser for families of deceased firefighters

The NSW RFS has set up an official fundraising portal for the families of the two volunteers – Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer – who were killed on Thursday while on duty at the Green Wattle Creek fire.

The link is here.

“All funds received will be equally distributed between the spouses of Geoffrey and Andrew, and tax receipts will be issued to donors,” the RFS said. “Both Geoffrey and Andrew leave behind loving partners and very young children.”

Geoffrey Keaton was 32 years old, joined the RFS in 2006 and was deputy captain of the Horsley Park brigade. Andrew O’Dwyer was 36 and joined the RFS in 2003.

And at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney last night, a touching tribute was held for the two firefighters during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United A-League match.

A minute's silence is observed for Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney.
A minute’s silence is observed for Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Updated

And for more on the communications kerfuffle and the PR disaster of the PM’s trip, Amy Remeikis has the definitive read.

Updated

Morrison trip is 'misinformation at best' – Albanese

Anthony Albanese has criticised Scott Morrison’s office for a lack of transparency and for what he called “misinformation” over the PM’s Hawaii holiday.

Earlier this week, Albanese said he would not attack the holiday itself, and Morrison was entitled to one, but it was the lack of information that was the issue. In a 2GB radio interview yesterday, Morrison said he would return “as soon as possible” and that he texted Albanese’s office on Monday to let him know of his vacation.

Today, Albanese has doubled down, as uncertainty still swirls as to precisely when Morrison will return to the top job.

“Michael McCormack, for a while there, his office wouldn’t even confirm that he was acting PM,” Albanese says. “The usual protocols have not been followed.

“Media enquiries were met with misinformation, at best.”

The New Daily’s Samantha Maiden had, after asking for confirmation, been told over text by the PM’s office that Morrison was not in Hawaii and those claims were “wrong”.

It was then confirmed the PM was in fact in Hawaii. And he was last sighted still on the island at 7am AEDT today.

“This is the government that doesn’t like scrutiny,” Albanese said. “It hides from transparency and it is not good enough.”

Updated

“The problem with this government is that it is not prepared to acknowledge that this is not business as usual,” Albanese says.

He says the government needs to “get its act together on climate change and energy”.

He adds that he would guarantee extra funding for fire services.

Updated

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is speaking now. He says he received a briefing yesterday from federal authorities that holidaymakers – especially in the Shoalhaven coast – should reconsider plans.

“It will be a circumstance where we don’t want people driving into dangerous areas,” he says.

40C heat and heavy smoke in Canberra have sparked an official health alert from ACT Health – the second in a row after yesterday.

It says: “People who are sensitive to smoke, especially those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, should take extra care and stay indoors where possible and take medication prescribed by their doctor.”

And across NSW, that heat is rising.

Updated

And overnight, SA premier Steven Marshall confirmed that a man who was killed in a car crash yesterday was a 24-year-old from Queensland.

Police said he crashed into a tree off the Mallee Highway near Lameroo about 2.30pm.

Updated

Four properties destroyed in SA

ABC reports that four properties have been confirmed destroyed in South Australia.

Two major fires are still burning and posing a threat to lives and homes.

The Country Fire Service has advised that there is a threat to lives on the northern side of Kangaroo Island, where a fire is burning at emergency level.

That includes Cape Forbin and Emu Bay, including Snelling Beach, King George Beach, Stokes Bay Hummocky Point, White Cliffs, Dashwood Bay, Smith Beach, Wisanger and the Emu Bay township.

Fire 'quadrupled in size' overnight

In Victoria, the Marthavale fire in East Gisppsland quadrupled in size overnight, according to the Country Fire Authority.

Incident controller Bernard Barbetti told the ABC it flared up after a wind change.

“It has spotted out into the private land but we’ve had firefighters at Tambo Crossing overnight, and at Ensay, and at the moment we’re not aware of any losses,” he said.

Emergency services commissioner Andrew Crisp said firefighters were facing “a long, long way to go”.

The Mathavale-Barmouth Spur fire is currently at emergency. It is out of control and travelling in a north-easterly direction towards Ensay.

The CFA is telling residents: “The Great Alpine Road is closed between Bruthen and Ensay. If you are leaving from the Ensay area, travel north towards Omeo on the Great Alpine Road.

“There is increased fire activity throughout the landscape and many tracks in the surrounding area are closed. Avoid entering the forest areas as the situation may change rapidly due to spot fires.”

A relief centre is open at the Omeo Memorial Hall in Omeo.

Updated

A round-up of the fires as they stand at the moment.

In Victoria, two fires are at emergency, both in East Gippsland.

In SA, a fire on Kangaroo Island is at emergency, while the Cudlee Creek fire in the Adelaide Hills is at watch and act.

In New South Wales, two watch and act warnings are in place for Gospers Mountain fire and Green Wattle Creek. Gospers Mountain was only downgraded 30 minutes ago.

There is an emergency warning in Victoria for the Marthavale-Barmouth Spur fire.

The warning is for Ensay, Ensay North, Ensay South, Reedy Flat, Stirling and Holstons.

In good news, the Gospers Mountain fire has been downgraded to watch and act.

“The immediate threat has eased” for Lithgow, Hermitage Flat, McKellars Park & Cobar Park, the RFS says.

Updated

Berejiklian also thanked people who had changed plans and avoided roads.

“The best thing we can do to support all of our volunteers and emergency service personnel on the ground is to take their advice,” she said.

“We don’t want anyone to unintentionally get themselves in harm’s way. I want to thank everyone who may have changed their plans or heeded advice because we don’t want anyone to unintentionally find themselves or a loved one in danger today.”

Updated

Premier: avoid roads in fire areas

There are road closures all across the country today.

And in a press conference earlier today, the New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, told residents to please be aware of the closures and avoid travel on roads in fire areas.

“We are asking everybody not to travel on roads near the vicinity of an active fire unless you absolutely have to,” she said. “Look at the livetraffic.com website before you leave home today. Avoid the Princes Highway all together, there are active fires which could become very dangerous in a short amount of time.”

An RFS volunteer has just been on ABC Radio NSW, with much the same advice.

He tells listeners, try and stay home with plenty of food and water. Postpone visiting relatives, or going on holiday, even though it is the time of year for it.

Updated

Canadian crews are out there helping Australian volunteers today.

The Sunday Telegraph’s political editor, Annika Smethurst, has reported that prime minister Scott Morrison was spotted in a lift today in Hawaii – at about 7am Australian time.

Yesterday he had promised to return “as soon as possible” to Australia from an overseas family holiday. He had originally been planning to return to the PM role – not necessarily to the country – by Monday night.

Smethurst also says the PM’s office says he will be back by later tonight.

There is a community meeting today in Victoria for the Lexton fire.

And there is a continuing emergency warning for the Gum Creek Road fire in Menzies in South Australia.

In Victoria, the Chute, Lexton, Mount Lonarch fire has been downgraded to watch and act, after flaring to emergency last night.

But the fire near Stirling, Tambo Crossing and Wattle Circle is still at emergency.

And if you are wondering how you can donate to or help the firefighting effort, whether through time, money or otherwise, Guardian Australia yesterday published this guide based on fire authority and evacuation centre advice.

And read this morning’s feature from environment editor Adam Morton, on the climate of chaos. It explains how weather events and global warming have led to the scale of these horrible fires – and two record-breaking hot days.

Finally, our interactive map on the size of the fires has been updated.

Updated

Emergency warning for Gospers Mountain

An emergency warning has just been issued for the huge Gospers Mountain fire in NSW.

Catastrophic conditions declared after horror day

Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of this week’s heatwave and the ongoing bushfire crisis.

It was a horror day yesterday and on Thursday. Two firefighters in NSW were killed on Thursday when their truck overturned near, and two were seriously injured in a separte incident near Bargo. On Friday, one person was confirmed killed in a car crash in South Australia in the fire zone, and eight fire fighters were injured.

Today, conditions in NSW are set to worsen. Catastrophic conditions have been declared in NSW for Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, and Southern Ranges.

This is only the second time catastrophic conditions have ever been declared for greater Sydney. The first time was last month. Catastrophic conditions are the equivalent of the conditions during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria.

Fires continue to burn across multiple states. Stay safe out there, keep in tune to emergency radio, and follow the advice of your local fire authority.

Updated

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