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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Luke Henriques-Gomes, Amy Corderoy and Josh Taylor

Blazes flare on New South Wales south coast and in Canberra – as it happened

Pialligo bushfire continues to burn close to Canberra airport.
An emergency warning was issued for a bushfire burning near Canberra airport on Thursday. Photograph: Mark Evans/Getty Images

What happened today

Before we leave you for the night, let’s briefly recap the day’s events:

  • Three US firefighters were killed on Thursday after their waterbombing plane crashed about 1.30pm while they battled bushfires in southern New South Wales. The cause of the crash is unknown.
  • The tragedy brings the death toll to 32.
  • Homes are reportedly lost at Moruya and Bermagui after fires once again tore through the NSW south cast. The RFS is yet to confirm the extent of the damage
  • A fire near the Pialligo forest threatened homes and forced the closure of Canberra airport. It has since reopened, but several flights were cancelled and the city was once again blanketed by thick smoke.
  • People in NSW and the ACT were asked to conserve energy until 8pm tonight because of the pressure “extreme weather” is taking on the grid.
  • In Victoria, Melbourne was blanketed in brown rain and play at the Australian Open has been pushed back due to the weather.

Updated

In slightly happier news:

The RSPCA says it has set up a special hotline for people with domestic animals affected by the bushfires, and is working on a suite of support services.

The RSPCA acting CEO, Tegan McPherson, says the organisation will look after pet welfare, while supporting other agencies to work with commercial livestock and wildlife.

“Whether it’s food, water, shelter, property visits or basic pet care supplies like collars and leads to get you back on your feet, we are here for the pets and people of Victoria – now and in the months to come.”

Updated

This is Luke Henriques-Gomes taking over from Amy Corderoy. Thanks to Amy for all her work.

Here is a statement from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning of damaging winds gusting up to 90kmh for more or less everywhere along the NSW coast from the Hunter all the way to the Victorian border.

Canberra’s airport has reopened, but only Qantas is operating, with a limited service, AAP reports. Virgin and Singapore Airlines have cancelled flights for the rest of the day. But the ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, has urged people to avoid the airport, so it’s unclear how many people will actually be flying. “If you have a flight booked it’s best to stay where you are and to contact your airline for updates on your flight schedule,” Barr said.

Most of the attention has been on NSW today, but there are also dangerous fires still burning in Victoria. The Buldah fire near the border is now at Watch & Act.

The South Coast Register is reporting that a grass fire has approached to within 200m of Moruya hospital. That’s on the south bank of the Moruya River - the RFS site is showing the fire has crossed the river.

Moruya
Extent of fire in Moruya. Photograph: NSW Rural Fire Service

Updated

Summary of events so far today

  • Three US residents have died in NSW when a C-130 water bombing aeroplane crashed today.
  • Canberra airport has been closed for long periods of the day, and parts of the ACT choked with toxic black smoke, due to the bushfires burning there. Thankfully, the Beard fire has been downgraded to “watch and act”.
  • However, the ACT Emergency Services Agency website is still down. Emergency information can be found on its social media accounts, or via ABC local radio.
  • People in NSW and the ACT have been asked to conserve energy until 8pm tonight because of pressure “extreme weather” is taking on the grid. Energy-saving measures include not setting your air-conditioner above 24C, and turning off unnecessary appliances.
  • There are currently 3 fires in NSW at emergency level.
  • In Victoria, Melbourne has been blanketed in brown rain and play at the Australian Open has been pushed back due to the weather.

Updated

Government buildings in Canberra are being told to turn down the air-con to help ease the load on the grid in NSW and the ACT.

Public servants were told that “extreme weather conditions” necessitated the power-saving measures be put in place until 7pm tonight. This includes:

  • Increasing temperature settings
  • Turning off unused equipment and lighting
  • Closing blinds to keep rooms cooler
  • Encouraging staff to continue these practices once they leave work.

Updated

Good news out of Canberra. The Beard fire has been downgraded from emergency alert to watch and act status. Residents in the suburbs of Beard, Oaks Estate, and Crestwood are now being advised to stay indoors to avoid hazardous smoke and to avoid the area if they’re not already there. Those in Pialligo and the Brindabella Business Park should monitor conditions, stay up-to-date, and follow police directions to safely exit the area.

“The fire is burning within containment lines close to Beard, Harman and Oaks Estate. The fire is currently 424 hectares in size,” the emergency services agency said. “Firefighters are on scene. Helicopters are water-bombing and providing aerial surveillance.”

Facebook post from the ACT Emergency Services Agency.

The ESA has also sent out a bit more information about its website, which is still down, making it hard for residents to access critical information about the fires. It says the error is due to their website service provider Amazon. The problem is affecting the ESA and Amazon’s other clients.

“We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” the ESA said. “Please continue to stay up to date via ESA Facebook and local media.”

We’ve just heard from ACT emergency services agency commissioner Georgeina Whelan, who held a press conference in Canberra.

She said the Beard fire – the product of two fires that have merged in the area near the ACT-NSW border – is still burning out of control and is 425 hectares in size. But there’s some positive news.

“It is burning within containment lines, which is very good news,” she said.

“We are aware that you are concerned about the smoke that is emanating from the fire, that is because of the recycling centre at Beard ... it is producing dangerous levels of smoke which are also reducing visibility and air quality.”

Whelan also spoke about the problems with the ESA website, which have taken it offline for some users. She says the issue is affecting other websites, not just the ESA, and tells people to follow the ESA on Facebook and listen to its updates on ABC radio Canberra.

Updated

All people who died in the water-bombing crash were US residents

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has confirmed that all three people who died in the downed C-130 this afternoon were American residents.

Fitzsimmons said their deaths will impact fire fighters world-wide.

“The firefighting fraternity, as we keep saying, is a tight-knit family, a fairly small family, and the crew on board were well known, not just to their colleagues here inAustralia, but we’re reminded that a number of our US colleagues that are embedded in some of the incident management teams now, including in the high country, actually had personal relationships with them,” he said.

Fire authorities have no idea what caused the water-bombing C-130 plane to crash suddenly this afternoon, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says.

“We simply lost contract with the machine and the flight tracker we used stopped,” he said. “There is no indication at this stage of what’s caused the accident.”

He has acknowledged that the grounding of the large air tankers is likely to impact fire-fighting capabilities on the ground in NSW.

Fitzsimmons has said it took “quite some time” to locate the wreckage of the C-130.

“It’s impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground,” he said. “It is still an active fire ground and it was very difficult to locate the wreckage.”

Coulson Aviation, which has provided water-bombing aircraft to NSW over the past four or five years, has grounded its large air tankers as a precaution.

“Coulsons have grounded their large air tankers this afternoon and, indeed, as a mark of respect and as welfare for the rest of their crews operating large air tankers here in New South Wales and interstate in Victoria, have grounded the operations pending review to ensure that there’s nothing systemic like a fuel problem or something,” Fitzsimmons said. “We’ve [also] got the military helping us with the evaluation of the fuel to rule that out.”

The owners of Coulson Aviation will fly to Australia from Canada as soon as possible, he said.

Updated

Three people killed in waterbombing tragedy

Three people have died in a fiery crash involving a C-130 water bombing aeroplane, the Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, has confirmed.

The plane went down at 1.30pm.

“Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area,” he said.

Updated

Gladys Berejiklian: today is a "a stark and horrible reminder" of fire danger

The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is addressing the media in NSW:

There are in excess of 70 aircraft that have been used today alone, and today is a stark and horrible reminder of the dangerous conditions that our volunteers, emergency services personnel ... undertake daily. We have more than 1,700 volunteers and personnel on the field today. There are five fires, one in the ACT and four in New South Wales, currently at emergency warning level.

However, she said, authorities were confident that conditions would ease over the next few hours.

Updated

To make matters worse in Canberra, the ACT’s emergency services agency’s website has just crashed. It’s showing only a “503 service error”.

Not great timing.

The website displays the agency’s crucial incident map of various fires, car crashes, and other emergencies across the territory.

It’s also the main source for emergency alert information for those trying to gauge whether to go or stay. It looks like the ESA’s Twitter account is still active. That account is pretty regular with its updates.

And, of course, you can tune in to the emergency broadcaster, ABC Canberra, for local information.

Updated

7 News is reporting that the wreckage of the downed C-130 has been found.

There’s a steady stream of people arriving at the Moruya showgrounds which has been reopened as an evacuation centre. For a lot of people, it’s becoming a home away from home.

One woman from Congo, just south of here, told me it was her third time here since New Year’s Eve.

“Our plan has been to leave early and we’ve been leaving early often lately,” she said.

Margaret, whose husband suffers from dementia, lives on the south side of town. She was here for five days after new year and has just arrived back.

“I can’t take of him at home when this is happening. I don’t like being here but I can’t be there either,” she said.

The wind has been incredible for the past few hours.

The view from outside the Moruya evacuation centre, which has been reopened due to the NSW bushfires.
The view from outside the Moruya evacuation centre, which has been reopened due to the NSW bushfires. Photograph: Michael McGowan/ Guardian Australia

Updated

A kangaroo crosses the road outside the Moruya showground, in southern NSW, where the fire evacuation centre has been reopened.
A kangaroo crosses the road outside the Moruya showground, in southern NSW, where the fire evacuation centre has been reopened. Photograph: Michael McGowan/Guardian Australia

The sky is looking ominous outside the Moruya showground where our reporter on the ground, Michael McGowan, captured this image.

Updated

NSW residents asked to cut electricity use between 4pm and 8pm

NSW residents have been asked to turn off any unnecessary appliances and keep airconditioners to 24C between 4 and 8pm today.

Temperatures in Sydney are expected to remain as high as 40C during that time.

Updated

You can see the plumes of thick black smoke coming from the recycling centre in Beard in this image provided by the ACT emergency services agency.

A recycling centre in Beard, in the Australian Capital Territory, has been affected by the Beard fire and is producing dangerous levels of smoke.
A recycling centre in Beard, in the Australian Capital Territory, has been affected by the Beard fire and is producing dangerous levels of smoke. Photograph: ACT emergency services agency

Updated

We’re getting reports that the Pialligo fire in Canberra has hit an industrial recycling centre, sending thick black smoke into the air.

The ACT’s emergency services agency said the fire had hit the recycling centre on Underwood Street. The fire was now producing “dangerous levels” of smoke, which the ESA said would reduce visibility and air quality. It advised residents to stay inside, close all windows and doors, turn off their air conditioning and evaporative coolers, and stay away from the area if they are not there already.

The area between Fyshwick and Queanbeyan, where the fire is burning, is one of a handful of industrial zones in Canberra.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Brindabella business park, authorities are understood to be evacuating office workers building by building.

A relief centre has been set up in Dickson, in the city’s inner-north, for those who can’t get back to their homes. The relief centre is at Dickson College.

The latest advice from the ESA:

“The fire is travelling in an easterly direction towards Beard, Oaks Estate and west Queanbeyan, including Crestwood. This fire has crossed the Molonglo River near Beard. The fire is out of control. Firefighters are on scene. However, under current conditions, the fire is difficult to control.”

Updated

Weather pushes back play at the Australian Open

The aerial mud that fell on Melbourne in an extended deluge overnight was joined by a fresh burst of rain on Thursday to delay play on the outside courts at the Australian Open.

Concerns about air pollution remain high as well, as the elements combine to bedevil the first grand slam tournament of the year.

Staff had to power-blast the red carpet of dust and muck from the uncovered courts, pushing back the scheduled start of play to 2pm. There were further interruptions for rain as the card was squeezed again.

Currently 84 grass fires burning in NSW, 40 not yet contained

It’s quite a fluid situation here in Moruya on the New South Wales south coast.

The massive Clyde Mountain fire is approaching at quite a clip thanks to incredibly strong westerly winds, and the Rural Fire Service says homes in the town are at risk. RFS crews are defending properties north of the town.

A few minutes ago the main street was pretty well deserted as a (by now familiar) red sky came over.

I’ve just stopped in at the golf club and although it’s quiet they say they’re staying open.

A few extremely keen golfers were even still out on the course.

Updated

Some more on the reported crash of the air tanker from AAP:

Five road ambulances and two rescue helicopters are en route after receiving reports of a plane crash in Peak View, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is yet to receive confirmation a crash has occurred, a spokesman said.

Updated

Reports that a water-bombing aircraft has crashed at Peak View

The NSW Rural Fire Service has said it is investigating after contact was lost with the large air tanker working in the Snowy Monaro area this afternoon.

Local ground crews have reported it may have crashed, and helicopters are in the area searching for the missing aircraft.

Updated

The two fires near the Canberra airport have merged.

Emergency warning for Buldah fire

The Buldah fire in East Gippsland has moved up to emergency warning level, and residents are advised to seek shelter.

There are several road closures across the ACT as a result of the fire.

From the ACT:

Updated

The conditions in Canberra are pretty abysmal.

Video from the Brindabella business park, which was threatened by the Pialligo fire, shows the strong winds ripping through the trees and thick blankets of smoke. The business park sits right next to Canberra airport and has offices for a number of government departments and the big corporate accounting firms Deloitte and KPMG.


It’s understood that a number of office workers have been treated for smoke inhalation after being evacuated. The speed of the fire had caused considerable concern, and spot fires are still being put out.

Warnings have also been issued for Oaks Estate, a relatively isolated suburb near the ACT-NSW border.

Oaks Estate is the most disadvantaged suburb in Canberra and locals have accused the government of treating it as a “leper colony” and creating “disadvantage by design” by leaving “vulnerable men with complex mental health and drug problems” in the suburb’s ageing public housing complexes without proper access to the rest of the city.

There is no direct bus line between Oaks Estate and Canberra.

Updated

An emergency warning has been issued for a fire burning in Glen Allen in NSW. People in New Line and Creewah roads have been advised to seek shelter.

Updated

A dust storm has just hit Mildura, too.

The chief of the defence force, Angus Campbell, says reservists will transition from full-time service on 1 February ahead of the order being revoked on 7 February.

He said reservists typically would have served for 28 days full-time continuously.

“I want to emphasise to you all, please, that you should see this as an appropriate transition in the form of service being invited of our reserve component, not a change to the effort being offered by the Australian defence force to assist in this time of national bushfire concern.”

He said the ADF was helping with the fires in Canberra and aircraft would be available if needed.

Updated

Australian Open closed

The Australian Open has been suspended due to the brown rain messing up the courts in Melbourne.

Updated

The Box Hill fire has been reduced to watch and act level.

There has also been a lot of criticism in the past few days over whether the charities people have donated to in response to the bushfire crisis have been getting that money out to the victims of the fires.

Morrison said the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and St Vincent de Paul remain “trusted, respected and good-hearted”, but he said he had heard they needed more support to get the millions of dollars out to those affected. He said the federal government was building a “database capability” to make it easier for charities to connect with the fire victims, and state governments would also help to get funds to those who need it.

Updated

Australian defence force reservists compulsory callout to end on 7 February

In a press conference, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the compulsory callout for the ADF reservists in response to the bushfire would expire on 7 February, 28 days since the callout was made.

“Now I want to stress absolutely that this does not mean, in any way, shape or form that you’re going to see any significant change at all in the level of the defence force deployment to support the recovery effort with these bushfires,” he said.

“We are just simply moving into a non-compulsory callout phase for reservists.”

He said the power to call them out remains there if needed, and defence would move to recovery and rebuilding.

He said the number of personnel deployed went from 890 in December to 6,500 this month.

Updated

An emergency warning has been issued for a fire on Badja Forest Road, Countegany, in the Snowy region.

Updated

If you want some background on why the fire conditions have worsened in New South Wales and the ACT today, and why it’s a bit calmer in Victoria (aside from the brown rain in Melbourne), you can read a piece I wrote earlier here.

Updated

People in Brindabella business park in the ACT are being advised to stay where they are. It is safe there.

Five fires at emergency warning in NSW

In New South Wales, there are five fires at emergency warning level, and are listed as out of control.

They are:

  • Adaminaby complex in the Snowy region
  • Big Jack Mountain Road, Rocky Hall, in the Bega Valley area
  • Clyde Mountain in the Eurobodalla region
  • Janpieter Road, Box Hill
  • Piallago avenue grass fire in Fairbairn near the ACT.

Another five fires are at watch and act stage.

In Victoria, where conditions are cooler, just one fire is at watch and act level, the Buldah fire in East Gippsland.

Updated

Canberra airport closed as emergency warning issued for fire in the capital

Canberra airport is closed and has been holding flights in and out of the nation’s capital on Thursday as emergency services issued an emergency warning for a bushfire near Beard, Oaks Estate and West Queanbeyan.

Residents have been advised to seek shelter.

“The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path. People in these suburbs are in danger and need to seek immediate shelter as the fire approaches,” the ACT emergency services agency said.

The fire started on Wednesday but strong winds and high temperatures caused the situation to deteriorate.

Canberra airport closed after the fires and has said it is holding flights in order to facilitate aerial firefighting efforts.

A total fire ban has been issued for the territory for Thursday, with a number of fires burning, including a second fire near the airport in the suburb of Pialligo that is at watch and act level, and burning trees near Monash.

Updated

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