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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Ben Doherty (now), Naaman Zhou and Josh Taylor (earlier)

Blazes threaten ACT as heat hits country's south east – as it happened

The sun sets on the Clear Range fire west of Michelago NSW Friday 31 January 2020.
The sun sets on the Clear Range fire west of Michelago NSW Friday 31 January 2020. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

We will close this blog for the evening shortly, but will re-open our rolling coverage of the ACT’s state of emergency early on Saturday.

The forecasts suggest a testing day, yet another at the end of this brutal summer. A severe fire warning is current for the ACT and southeastern NSW.

Fires are running out of control in both jurisdictions, and fanned by hot and windy conditions, could threaten lives and homes Saturday.

Be safe everybody. Keep an ear on your local ABC and other emergency broadcasters, and listen to the experts, they are there to help you.

Be well.

More views from Canberra’s southern edges. This from the ABC’s indefatigable Phil Williams.

The NSW Rural Fire Service also warning tomorrow will be a difficult day: properties may again come under threat.

At the time of publishing, there is only one reply to this tweet, and only one word: ‘crikey’.

Updated

A little more on the fire prediction maps from the ACT Emergency Services Agency: the potential spread area of the fire (marked in red) runs massively beyond – and is far larger – than the area already burned (grey). Ember attacks are possible over an even broader area (red and white checks).

The fire has already burned more than 19,000 hectares, giving a sense of how difficult conditions are going to be Saturday.

Fire spread prediction for Saturday 1 February 2020 NSW and ACT
Fire spread prediction for Saturday 1 February 2020 NSW and ACT Photograph: ACT Fire Protection Agency
Fire spread prediction for Saturday 1 February 2020 NSW and ACT
Fire spread prediction for Saturday 1 February 2020 NSW and ACT Photograph: ACT Fire Protection Agency

Updated

Tharwa, southern suburbs of Canberra to be threatened tomorrow

The latest fire spread map for the Orroral Valley fire shows the blaze could reach the edge of Tuggeranong’s southern suburbs tomorrow.

The ACT Emergency Services Agency says:

Severe fire danger is forecast across the ACT and south-eastern NSW for Saturday. Under these conditions fires will spread and may threaten properties.

Embers may be blown ahead of fires and could start spot fires.

Currently, there is the potential that fire could spread as far north as Tharwa and close to the southern suburbs of Canberra including Banks.

South African rugby legend Bryan Habana is auctioning off a signed jersey and a pair of boots from his 100th test match (played against Australia) to raise money for bushfire relief. A lovely gesture, bid high, bid often...

Hot and windy weather conditions forecast for the weekend are expected to increase the bushfire threat to homes in the Canberra region.
Hot and windy weather conditions forecast for the weekend are expected to increase the bushfire threat to homes in the Canberra region. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images

Authorities in the Australian Capital Territory have declared a state of emergency as fire burn near Canberra.
Authorities in the Australian Capital Territory have declared a state of emergency as fire burn near Canberra. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA

Sever fire warning for southeastern NSW and the ACT tomorrow.

South Australia: thunderstorms, power cuts, flooding.

Power was cut to thousands of properties and minor flooding reported in several centres as thunderstorms and rain swept across South Australia.

At one stage on Friday, more than 9,000 properties were without electricity, mostly on southern Eyre Peninsula and through the Barossa Valley.

Outages also caused issues for the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where some operations were disrupted and others cancelled.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for most of SA for Friday, with the band of storms sweeping through the Barossa and down into Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs likely to be the most damaging.

It said rainfall totals of up to 100mm were possible and wind gusts could hit 90km/h, with the rain to continue into Saturday.

Images on social media showed flooding in some centres, including Port Lincoln on Eyre Peninsula, with shops and other buildings appeared to be affected.

On Kangaroo Island, where bushfires recently burnt through more than 210,000 hectares, the storms brought more than 40mm of rain on Friday, likely enough to finally damp down remaining hotspots.

Updated

The latest fire advice from the ACT Emergency Services Agency:

A bushfire is moving south and east and has spotted in the Billy Range to the west of Naas Road. Fire conditions are erratic with heavy spotting.

The fire is also moving north slowly and is currently 1km south of Corin Road.

Residents in the following areas are advised to leave if safe to do so:

  • Apollo Road
  • Boboyan Road, north of the Glendale depot
  • Top Naas Road, south of the Boboyan Road intersection
  • Corin Road

If you are not in the area, do not return. Soon it will be too dangerous to drive.

More details here.

And, there are now severe thunderstorms also forecast for Melbourne, as the bureau updates its advice.

And meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm is heading for South Australia.

Aerial footage of the fires in the ACT.

Two emergency warnings for Victoria

Two new emergency warnings have just been issued in Victoria: One for Bendoc in the north of East Gippsland and one for Cape Conran in the south.

The northern warning applies to Bendoc, Bendoc Upper and Bendoc North.

“There is a bushfire near Bendoc and surrounds that is not yet under control,” according to the CFA.

“The bushfire is travelling in a north and north-westerly direction towards Bendoc, Bendoc Upper and Bendoc North.”

The fire at Cape Conran is heading west towards Marlo.

“Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.

“You should leave and head west towards Orbost. The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area. When you leave remember to take your pets, mobile phone and medications.”

Updated

Images here of the defence force helping out in the ACT today during the state of emergency.

The bushfires clearly on the minds of public servants today.

In Victoria, Aemo have issued an actual Lack of Reserve 2. This means the reserve levels are lower than the largest single supply resource in Victoria.

The state energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, has tweeted that power supply is “still very tight”.

Hello everyone, this is Naaman Zhou taking over the blog from Josh Taylor.

In the ACT, the total fire ban has just been extended. It now lasts until midnight Sunday 2 February.

Updated

Almost 10,000 properties in South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and Barossa Valley are without power.

Via AAP:

Power has been cut to almost 10,000 properties across South Australia as thunderstorms and rain lash parts of the state.

About 5,000 properties on the southern Eyre Peninsula had services cut on Friday afternoon as the wild weather moved across the region.

Other areas to lose electricity were dotted through the Barossa Valley, north-east of Adelaide.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for most of SA for Friday, with the band of storms sweeping through the Barossa likely to be the most damaging.

It said rainfall totals of up to 100 millimetres were possible and wind gusts could hit 90km/h.

The bureau said flash flooding was also possible in some areas.

Updated

CFA chief officer Steve Warrington is talking about the fire earlier in Smythesdale.

He said 47 trucks were brought in and the CFA was able to get on top of it quickly.

The CFA is currently monitoring dry lightning strikes that could spark new fires. He said the severe fire risk from today will keep going until midday tomorrow, despite the predicted rainfall.

Since midnight last night there have been 20 new fires.

Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp said transmission lines have been tripped between South Australia and Victoria, and this is a priority for emergency crews, amid warnings of potential brownouts in Victoria today.

“There are simple things people can do. It’s about whether you need to have the dishwasher on, washing machine, set the air conditioning between 23 and 26. Turn off the lights wherever you can. We know it can make a difference.”

Updated

The Bureau of Meterology says we have seen temperatures in Victoria as high as 45.6 degrees today.

The humidity tonight is going to make it uncomfortable for a lot of residents.

There have been winds of up to 119km/h at Mount Gellibrand near Colac.

Due to the dust in north west Victoria at the moment, there is also the chance of mud rain tomorrow, again.

There’s a forecast of between 10mm and 40mm of rain for Melbourne. If the storms are severe, there is also a good chance for hail of less than 5cm.

An update on the weather situation in Victoria from Victorian police minister Lisa Neville – most of the rain won’t arrive until tomorrow morning and in Melbourne at around the middle of the day.

The wind and storm conditions will likely make it difficult to use aircrafts if new fires start.

It’s going to stay hot in large parts of Victoria, including Melbourne tonight.

Updated

For those trying to check what’s happening in the ACT the website is down. Thankfully NSW RFS also has a lot of information on the Orroral Valley fire.

The fire in Ross Creek, Scarsdale and Smythesdale has been downgraded to watch and act.

Orroral Valley fire upgraded to emergency warning.

Residents are advised to leave immediately, and head north using Naas Road towards Tharwa and Canberra. The route has been cleared and is being monitored.

The fire is approaching Apollo Road, Boboyan Road north of the Glendale Depot, and Top Naas Road, south of the Boboyan Road intersection.

Updated

Another watch and act alert has popped up in Clear Range in the Snowy Monaro region. It is not that far from the Orroral Valley fire in the ACT, and NSW RFS says a number of spot fires started in the Michelago area as a result of the ACT fire.

Waterbombing aircrafts are working in the area, but fire activity is expected to increase in the afternoon.

Updated

A fire is also burning out of control in northern Tasmania.

Via AAP:

Authorities have issued an emergency warning for an uncontrolled bushfire in northern Tasmania.

An out of control bushfire is threatening homes in northern Tasmania.

Authorities issued an emergency warning for the blaze at rural Winkleigh, about 35km north-west of Launceston, on Friday afternoon.

Residents are being urged to travel south but only if it’s safe to do so, the Tasmania Fire Service says.

Updated

The Creewah Rd, Glen Allen fire in the Snowy Monaro region has also just been upgraded to watch and act level.

Firefighters and aircrafts are working to slow the spread of the fire, which is currently out of control.

Updated

Emergency warning issued for Ross Creek, Scarsdale, and Smythesdale near Ballarat

The fire is currently travelling from Bandys Road and has crossed Browns Road in a southerly direction.

People are advised to leave now before conditions become too dangerous.

Updated

Meanwhile in South Australia, a severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the Adelaide region, with damaging winds and heavy rainfall predicted for people in parts of Barossa, Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills, Gawler, Western Alexandrina and Playford.

It is worth mentioning the air quality is also a problem in large parts of Victoria, with a dust storm travelling across from South Australia, reaching Mallee and Wimmera today.

It’ll reach the central district later this afternoon.

Updated

The Big Jack Mountain fire in the Bega Valley has been upgraded to watch and act alert level.

The fire is being controlled, but fire activity has increased near Mt Darragh Rd.

Josh Taylor here taking over from my colleague Naaman Zhou.

Here’s the latest from AAP on the state of emergency in Australia’s capital, and what we can expect tomorrow:

ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said Saturday is expected to be the most dangerous day with “textbook” fire conditions.

“What are the 10 things contributing to having a really, really dangerous fire? They are lining up,” she said.

Heat, fire index rating, the territory’s topography and fuel loads are among the leading causes of concern.

Fears are growing the fire could break containment lines with ground crews having access to just 1% of the spread due to inaccessible terrain.

“It has been unpredictable. It remains challenging. It is difficult to access. This fire could create its own weather system,” Ms Whelan said.

“If all of what I have just outlined occurs, there is a chance this fire could break containment lines.”

Updated

AAP reports Victoria is expected to face its highest demand for electricity in more than five years as sweltering hot and humid conditions hit the state.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) forecasts demand not seen since early 2014 and is urging Victorians to reduce their energy use between 1pm and 8pm to help prevent blackouts.

“While there are currently sufficient electricity reserves to manage the peak electricity demand today, this situation could change,” the regulator said in a statement on Friday.

Avoiding running additional appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, setting air conditioners between 23C and 26C and temporarily switching off pool pumps are ways Aemo says people can reduce their usage.

But it has stressed people’s health and wellbeing remains the highest priority and they should only conserve energy when safe.

The regulator says electricity disruptions might unfold if higher demand is met with unplanned generation or transmission issues such as a major generator fail or even more dramatic weather.

Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio says the state’s energy supply will be “very, very tight”.

The Loy Yang A power station experienced a failure overnight, but Aemo was able to draw on reserve supplies to prevent any power customers being affected. Aemo chief executive Audrey Zibelman said a bigger concern would be losing two major units during a time of peak demand.

“We would be in a situation where we would probably just have enough to keep the system intact, and the concern would be if we lost a third unit, we could lose the whole system,” she told reporters.

Updated

Temperatures up to 41C, and winds up to 20km/h are forecast for the ACT today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Orroral Valley fire, in Namadgi national park, is currently out of control and at a watch and act.

The ACT ESA has warned that people near Boboyan Road, Top Naas Road, Apollo Road and Tharwa Village could be affected by the fire.

The fire is travelling slowly in an easterly direction. Fire activity is expected to increase this afternoon as conditions deteriorate.

People in the southern suburbs of Banks, Gordon and Conder should monitor conditions closely and be ready to act.

Updated

Welcome to our live bushfire coverage.

A state of emergency has been declared in the ACT as Canberra faces its biggest bushfire threat for more than 15 years.

Chief minister Andrew Barr made the announcement on Friday, with an 18,000 hectare fire in the Namadgi national park set to threaten homes in the capital’s south.

“The ACT is now facing the worst bushfire threat since the devastating fires of 2003,” he said on Friday.

“The combination of extreme heat, wind and a dry landscape will place suburbs at Canberra’s south at risk in coming days.”

The fire is currently at “watch and act” level.

Meanwhile a total fire ban is in place in southern parts of New South Wales and most of Victoria due to forecast hot and dry conditions.

Updated

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