Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Lisa Cox (now) and Naaman Zhou (earlier)

Water-bombing helicopter crash-lands at bushfire west of Brisbane – as it happened

Firefighters battle a spot fire in Hillville, NSW
NSW, Qld, Australian fires: firefighters battle a spot fire in Hillville. Bushfire conditions are expected to ease in parts of New South Wales but worsen in Queensland as eastern Australia faces an unprecedented early fire season. Photograph: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Wednesday evening

We are closing the blog for now. Here is the situation as it currently stands.

In Queensland:

  • There were 80 active fires.
  • Leave immediately and leave now alerts had been issued at locations including Kinkuna Waters, Pechey, Buxton, Woodgate/Walkers Point Road, Kilkivan and Noosa North Shore.
  • There were 293 vehicles across all of the fires around the state.
  • 14 homes had been destroyed.
  • 100 interstate and international personnel had arrived in the state to assist.
  • Very high to severe conditions were expected to persist across Queensland. Conditions may ease in some areas on Thursday but severe fire danger was expected again into the weekend.

In New South Wales:

  • There were 76 active fires.
  • None were currently at emergency warning level, most were at watch and act or advice level.
  • Conditions eased on Wednesday after the catastrophic and extreme fire danger ratings on Tuesday.
  • Thursday was forecast to bring very high fire danger across much of the state, as was Friday, with potentially severe fire danger on Friday in the greater Hunter region.
  • The very high fire danger being experienced in the north-east of the state was expected to continue for the rest of the week.
  • The Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said severe conditions forecast for the weekend would be followed by another burst of hot air next week, meaning crews “simply aren’t going to get the upper hand on all of these fires”.

In Western Australia:

  • One fire was at emergency warning level at Drummond Cove in Geraldton.
  • A second fire, the Utakarra fire in Geraldton had been downgraded to watch and act.
  • AAP was reporting that two homes had been destroyed and two homes had been damaged in Geraldton.

Updated

AAP has this on the fire at Noosa North Shore:

Residents and holidaymakers have piled onto boats to escape a large out of control bushfire whipped up by gusty winds on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Firefighters and water bombers battled the blaze that jumped containment lines at Noosa North Shore on the northern banks of the Noosa River on Wednesday afternoon.

“About two hours ago we thought we had it contained but the wind is terribly variable at the moment,” Noosa mayor Tony Wellington told AAP.

“A change of wind means it’s now spotting beyond containment lines.”

Mr Wellington said the entire population of about 180 residents and holidaymakers had been evacuated from the peninsula of land that adjoins the Great Sandy National Park.

The only way in and out of the area is by ferry or private boat, he said.

“This is the second time they’ve been evacuated ... they were evacuated over the weekend during the Cooroibah fire,” he said.

Updated

Another alert from Queensland: Buxton, leave immediately.

From AAP:

A bushfire has reportedly destroyed two homes and damaged two others in Geraldton in Western Australia’s Mid West region.

Mayor Shane Van Styn said he had been told about property loss at Utakarra but it was yet to be officially confirmed.

Mr Van Styn said he had not heard of any injuries.

Strong, hot winds would drive a separate blaze towards coastal Drummond Cove, north of Geraldton, if it was not contained, Mr Van Styn said.

An emergency warning remains in place for Drummond Cove, neighbouring Glenfield and Utakarra.

“These fires commenced in vacant properties next to residential areas and are very fast moving,” Mr Van Styn told AAP.

He said students who usually took buses home to those areas were being kept at school for the time being.

Roads have been closed and motorists are asked to avoid the areas.

Updated

Kinkuna Waters: Leave now

Some more from the Elands, NSW resident Susie Russell, who has highlighted a problem some residents of other rural areas have also spoken to Guardian Australia about this week.

She says it has been very difficult to get timely information in and out of Elands about the fire situation.

A phone tower was recently installed to bring communication to the town, but it’s been down since Friday. Residents who remain in Elands have been going to a single spot where they can get phone reception from another point on the coast.

Another resident, Jarra Hicks, told Guardian Australia people had doorknocked on Monday to alert friends and family of the need to evacuate.

Residents have been trying to highlight the need for a generator.

“They could bring in a generator to power the tower instead of us all having to drive around like crazy or ring triple zero to find out what’s going on,” Russell says.

“That would be one thing they could do to make this community safer. That would be one practical thing they could do tomorrow.”

Updated

The emergency warning for the southern part of the suburb of Utakarra in Geraldton, Western Australia remains in place.

Updated

An update from Elands in northern NSW from resident Susie Russell.

Most of the village was evacuated on Monday night, but Russell is among a small group of residents who chose to stay and defend property. The town has a small volunteer fire crew that has been battling multiple fires, including the Rumba Dump fire.

She says the fires are being controlled, but the threat remains.

“We dodged a bullet last night,” Russell says.

“The southerly wasn’t as strong as we feared. Our magnificent fire captain got permission to do a backburn, which worked really well.

“The 15 houses that would have otherwise gone up in smoke are still standing strong.”

Elands is in steep country and fires are making their way along the tops of the ridges, Russell says.

It’s usually very green as well, but at a time of year when they would normally have had more than a metre of rainfall, they’ve had less than 500mm.

“The country is just really, really in trouble. Everything around here looks like it’s going to burn and there’s no rain in sight,” Russell says.

Updated

Some more on the Pechey fire from the QFES Facebook page:

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advises there is a bushfire approaching Pechey. Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.

Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.

Currently as at 5.10pm, Wednesday 13 November, a fast-moving fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction between Pechey and Hampton. It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road and Pechey Forestry Road, Pechey in the coming hours. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.

You can find the full post here.

Updated

Leave immediately alert for Pechey

Another alert for the Pechey fire in Queensland. Leave immediately.

Updated

Conditions have eased at the Hillville Road fire in NSW. The fire has been downgraded to watch and act.

There have been a rising number of “leave now” or “leave immediately” warnings in Queensland in the last hour:

  • Kilkivan
  • Noosa North Shore
  • Buxton (part of Woodgate/Walkers Point fire)
  • Pechey (near Hampton)
  • Woodgate/Walkers Point Road
  • Kinkuna Waters (part of Woodgate/Walkers Point Road fire)
  • Woodgate/Walkers Point Road (south of Bundaberg) grass fire

You can find the full details of each warning here on the QFES Facebook page.

Updated

Queensland firefighters say the Kilkivan fire could reach Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road soon.

A bit more detail is filtering through about the helicopter incident on the Darling Downs, near one of the state’s most concerning bushfires.

Most concerning is that the Pechey fire appeared to breach containment lines after the incident. It is not yet clear whether other aerial operations were suspended temporarily as a result.

About 2pm the aircraft – a private water-bombing helicopter run by McDermott Aviation – got into trouble while attempting to land near Grapetree Road.

It came down hard – though there remains some conjecture about whether it constituted a “crash landing” or just a rough landing. The pilot, in his 70s, has been taken to hospital in a stable condition, but will likely be OK. Queensland Ambulance earlier described his injuries as minor.

Some aerial images have come in via an ABC journalist of the helicopter. Certainly looks nasty.

Updated

And here is a photo from South Turramurra yesterday:

A firefighter starts cleaning fire retardant off a house in Canoon Rd, South Turrumurra, north of Sydney on Tuesday 12 November.
A firefighter starts cleaning fire retardant off a house in Canoon Road, South Turrumurra, in Sydney’s north, on Tuesday 12 November. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian

Updated

An update on the South Turramurra fire:

The Ku-ring-gai mayor, Jennifer Anderson, has slammed potential arson in South Turramurra as an “almost unimaginable” act during Tuesday’s catastrophic fire conditions on Sydney’s upper north shore.

Police are investigating whether multiple fires in bushland around South Turramurra were deliberately lit on Tuesday afternoon. One fire, in dense bush off Canoon Road, came within metres of homes.

It was stopped by an intense firefighting effort involving water bombing with a pink-coloured fire retardant. Anderson told the Guardian the cause of the fire was still being investigated by police.

“As mayor it seems almost unimaginable that someone would put our community in such danger,” she said.

“With the total fire ban still in place, we ask residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity near bushland to police.”

NSW police said they had no update on the status of their investigation. Many homes in Turramurra were still coated with a pink layer of fire retardant on Wednesday.

The chemicals are essentially fertilisers (ammonium and diammonium sulphate and ammonium phosphate) mixed with a red-coloured pigment, made from iron oxide.

Firefighters use the pigment so they can see where retardant has already been deployed.

The council is cleaning the chemicals off at no extra charge. The clean-up is expected to take several days.

Updated

Some new images showing spot fires breaking out at Hillville today.

The RFS has just issued a new emergency warning for the fire.

Residents fight a grass fire in the Hillville area near Taree on Thursday
Residents fight a grass fire in the Hillville area near Taree on Thursday. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP
RFS firefighters battle a spot fire on Thursday in Hillville
RFS firefighters battle a spot fire on Thursday in Hillville. Photograph: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Updated

Emergency warning for Hillville Road

The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued the first emergency warning for NSW for Wednesday for a fire at Hillville Road, Hillville on the mid-north coast.

Updated

The New South Wales parliament had been set this week to debate legislation that would try to stop planning authorities from blocking coal and gas developments because of their scope 3 emissions.

Environment groups had called for the debate to be postponed given the bushfire disaster in NSW and a protest was held outside the parliament in Sydney on Tuesday.

It now looks like that legislation will be debated in the lower house next week. The one-week delay means it is unlikely to be debated by the legislative council until next year.

A short inquiry will be held into the bill over the summer break.

Updated

Back in NSW:

Brad Edge is a resident of Congarinni on the mid-north coast of NSW. We spoke to him on Monday when fires were threatening his property. He and his family had been evacuated from several different locations.

On Wednesday he said the situation has not improved and his house remained under threat. Containment lines had been put in on his property.

“The fire has broken the containment lines,” he said.

“So now the RFS is backburning. They’re going to burn about 40 acres of bush.

“You can see it from the house now.

“The closer it gets and the hotter it burns, it’s harder to control. But I hope it’s controlled.”

Edge has spent the day helping a friend prepare his property, which is now also threatened.

“As they say, this won’t be over for quite a while,” he said.

Updated

The mayor of Toowoomba, Paul Antonio, was speaking live to ABC News 24 when word came through a water-bombing helicopter had crashed in the area.

The Queensland Ambulance Service is calling it a “heavy landing” and says the pilot has minor injuries.

Residents of Pechey and Hampton, to the north of Toowoomba, have been told to leave their properties with the fire front approaching.

Antonio said he wasn’t aware, but was thankful to the fixed-wing and helicopter pilots who were helping to fight the fires.

“Our thoughts are with all concerned and we are looking forward to it working out the right way,” he said.

“There was three aeroplanes and a number of helicopters involved [because] parts of this fire are in inaccessible country.

“The fire is well resourced.”

Updated

An update on the pilot involved in the helicopter crash. The ABC is reporting the pilot has survived.

The Queensland Ambulance Service is calling it a heavy landing, rather than a crash, and says the pilot is being treated for minor injuries.

Updated

Water-bombing helicopter crashes

Some breaking news:

The ABC is reporting a water-bombing helicopter has crashed while fighting a fire at Pechey on the Darling Downs, west of Brisbane.

The Queensland Ambulance Service and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services are responding, a QFES spokesman said.

“QFES is seeking further clarification regarding the condition of the pilot,” he said.

Updated

So far

More than 70 fires continue to burn across NSW, and 61 across Queensland.

Conditions eased compared to the catastrophic danger ratings in NSW yesterday, but worsened in Queensland.

In Queensland:

  • An emergency “leave immediately” warning was issued for Noosa North Shore.
  • Five “leave now” warnings were issued: Pechey, Woodgate/Walkers Point, Kinkuna Waters, Kilkivan, and Spicers Peak Lodge.
  • Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed 14 homes had been lost, 13 of them in the Cobraball fire near Yeppoon.
  • Severe conditions were declared for Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and the Southeast Coast.

In NSW:

  • Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was relieved no lives were lost yesterday.
  • 21 people were injured yesterday – 13 of them firefighters and eight members of the public. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
  • At least 50 homes were damaged or destroyed yesterday.
  • There were 2,000 calls to triple zero yesterday.
  • NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that coordination had “never been better” than yesterday in fighting the fires.
  • But he warned that we still had “the worst of the summer ahead of us” and that “the science is suggesting, and we are experiencing, that fire seasons are starting earlier and are extending longer”.
  • Today, severe conditions were declared for New England.

Updated

An update on the Noosa North Shore fire, which is still at emergency and still at “leave immediately”.

“The fire may soon impact the Wallaby Track so residents on Noosa North Shore are advised to leave immediately. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.

People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street. An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive.

Updated

Leave now issued for Kinkuna Waters

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has issued a new and separate warning for Kinkuna Waters, near the existing Woodgate/Walkers Point Road fire, which is also at “leave now”.

“A fast-moving bushfire is burning near Woodgate Road and Woppis Road, travelling towards Kinkuna Waters Estate,” QFES say. “Residents in Kinkuna Waters Estate should evacuate west on Woodgate Road towards Goodwood.

“There is a separate warning current for residents in Woodgate/Walkers Point Road. Residents in this area should follow instructions given in that warning.”

Updated

This is what a watch and act fire looks like.

This photo from Monday, taken by a Nasa satellite, shows the smoke all along the coast.

Satellite photo taken by NASA shows the weather condition as bushfires burn in the eastern part of NSW
A satellite photo taken by NASA shows the weather condition as bushfires burn in the eastern part of NSW. Photograph: AP

Updated

Police are also investigating 12 fires for potential arson, according to AAP.

Those include three fires in Balgownie near Wollongong and four fires throughout Morisset near Lake Macquarie.

They are also looking at suspicious fires in Sydney’s South Turramurra, at Loftus in the Royal national park, at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, at Wollongong’s Berkeley and at Moonbi near Tamworth.

Updated

Five men have been caught today breaching the state’s total fire ban, AAP reports.

One man allegedly resisted arrest when he was caught lighting candles at a Campbelltown campsite. Others were lighting barbecues and incinerating rubbish.

Two men have also been charged after being found with allegedly stolen RFS equipment. The first man was allegedly found with an RFS uniform and documentation in Lismore, northern NSW, and the second man was found in Loftus impersonating a firefighter and wearing a Fire and Rescue NSW uniform.

Updated

Some footage of a spot fire from Hillville, from Jessica Hromas and Michael McGowan on the scene.

Smoke alert for Mackay:

Updated

Leave now issued for Pechey

Residents of Pechey (near Hampton) have been told to leave now, and head towards the New England Highway.

“There is a bushfire in Pechey and Hampton and conditions are getting worse,” the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service says. “A fast moving fire is travelling from Grapetree Road towards Deeth Road, Sewell Road, Parker Road, Bush Road and Misty Mountain Road. It is currently impacting Parker Road and Sewell Road. The fire could have a significant impact on the community.”

Updated

Images of Walkers Point, which is also at “leave now”.

More photos from Jessica Hromas from Rainbow Flat, where the volunteer Rural Fire Service base sadly burnt down while they were fighting other fires.

Sadly the Rainbow Flat volunteer Rural Fire Brigade base was burnt down while they where fighting other fires
The remains of the Rainbow Flat volunteer Rural Fire Brigade base. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
A door at the Rainbow Flat volunteer Rural Fire Brigade base
A door at the Rainbow Flat volunteer Rural Fire Brigade base. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Updated

Taronga Zoo has sent us this advice for what to do if you find wildlife affected by bushfires.

Put your own safety first

  • Be aware of ongoing danger from fire, embers, downed power lines or trees and only attempt to rescue animals if it is safe to do so.
  • Bats should only be handled by a trained person who has appropriate vaccination.
  • Snakes should be handled by a trained reptile handler unless confirmed as non-venomous.
  • When picking up an injured animal use a towel or gloves to prevent injury to yourself.

Keep the animal cool (not cold) and in a quiet area

  • It is best to keep them at comfortable room temperature.
  • It is a good idea to keep a cardboard box or light pillow slip in your car to contain injured wildlife rather than keeping it wrapped in a towel.
  • When transporting an injured animal, turn on the car air conditioner, turn off the radio and get the animal to help as soon as possible. If you cannot transport it immediately, keep it in a quiet, dark room.
  • Do not disturb the animal once rescued as it will be highly stressed and frightened. Minimise noise (eg radios, loud voices) and keep household pets away.

Offer water

  • It is OK to offer the animal a shallow dish of water to drink. Water may also be offered from a syringe or dropper but do not force the animal to drink.
  • Seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
  • Do not attempt to treat the animal yourself and do not apply cream or ointments to injuries.
  • Take injured wildlife to your local vet, or call WIRES (1300 094 737) or Sydney Wildlife Carers (9413 4300) for assistance. You can also call the Taronga Wildlife Hospital for advice on 9978 4785.

Updated

Incredible pictures here of the smoke from the beach at Noosa North Shore.

Updated

A nervous few hours for residents and firefighters in Hillville, just outside of Taree.

Homes have already been lost in the suburb and on Wednesday morning winds picked up and began pushing the fire in a north-westerly direction. We watched as one family fought desperately to stop spot fires making their way up the hill towards their home.

No sooner did it look like the blaze was under control, when an ember would spark somewhere else in the dry paddocks. Two helicopters dropped water on homes as a fire crew tried to stop the blaze in its tracks.

Everyone here is nervous, it seems. Tuesday’s catastrophic conditions may have passed, but they know they are not out of the woods yet.

A spot grass fire burns on a property in Hillville, south of Taree.
A spot grass fire burns on a property in Hillville, south of Taree. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Updated

Emergency warning for Noosa North Shore

The Noosa North Shore fire has worsened, and there is now an emergency warning and a “leave immediately” warning in place.

Previously, the fire was at “leave now”.

“Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive,” says QFES. “An unpredictable fire is burning on Noosa North Shore near the First Cutting.

“People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street. An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive.

“Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing. The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.”

Updated

Leave now issued for Woodgate/Walkers Point

People in Walkers Point south of Bundaberg are being told to evacuate.

A fast-moving bushfire is burning near Woodgate Road and Woppis Road, burning towards Walkers Point Road and conditions are getting worse.

Those in the Woodgate township are not yet required to evacuate at this time, but QFES says that “if you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave now if it is clear to do so”.

Those in the Walkers Point area should evacuate via Walkers Point Road, towards Woodgate Bowls Club, Kangaroo Court.

Just breaking now – an exclusive story from my colleague Anne Davies.

Yesterday, as bushfires raged, a meeting of NSW bureaucrats were directly told in an email to “not discuss the links between climate change and bushfires”.

The bureaucrats were at a conference about adapting to climate change.

“For those attending AdaptNSW today, public affairs has issued advice not to discuss the link between climate change and bushfires,” the email said.

Read the full story here:

Updated

Queensland authorities have updated their advice on the fire heading towards Noosa North Shore and say conditions are unpredictable, “very dangerous” and that firefighters might not be able to stop its advance.

The fire is burning on Noosa North Shore, near the beach at First Cutting.

It may soon head towards Wallaby Track. Residents are advised to leave immediately.

“The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.”

The evacuation centre is at the Noosa Leisure Centre, on Wallace Drive.

Leave now issued for Kilkivan

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has issued another leave now advisory, this time for a bushfire at Kilkivan, near Gympie.

“Currently as at 11.30am Wednesday, 13 November, a large fire is burning in the vicinity of the Des Simpson Memorial, heading in a south-westerly direction towards Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road.

“The fire is likely to impact Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road within 30 minutes. The fire could have a significant impact on the community.

“Those residents looking to self-evacuate should travel along Thornside Road onto Upper Widgee Road heading towards Gympie.”

Updated

Some new images from Queensland yesterday, from photographer Cam Neville in Tarome and Lower Beechmont.

Firefighters battle bushfires in Tarome and Lower Beechmont on Tuesday.
Firefighters battle bushfires in Tarome and Lower Beechmont on Tuesday. Photograph: Cam Neville/The Guardian
Firefighters battle bushfires in Tarome and Lower Beechmont on Tuesday.
Firefighters battle bushfires in Tarome and Lower Beechmont on Tuesday. Photograph: Cam Neville/The Guardian

There is severe fire danger across the southern part of Queensland today, with hot, dry and windy conditions.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Victoria Dodds says a predicted wind change is adding “real complexity to the forecast, and it will make conditions really challenging for our firefighters on the ground”.

“We’ve got a south-westerly change – a cold front that’s moving in – and we’ve also got a south-easterly change.

“There’s a bit of a battle of air masses at the moment. With that south-westerly and the south-easterlies, where that air comes together, there is the potential for some thunderstorms to form this afternoon.

“The air is really, really dry, so we’re not going to see any significant rainfall with these thunderstorms, but there’s definitely the potential for some lightning.”

Updated

14 homes lost in Queensland

The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is providing an update on bushfires and confirms 14 homes have been lost in the state.

The main areas of concern are in the Scenic Rim area and near Noosa, where people are being asked to leave.

“Now is not the time to be complacent, the conditions are of concern to us,” Palaszczuk said.

The premier said reinforcements were arriving from Tasmania today to assist with the firefighting effort, joining New Zealanders who arrived yesterday.

Updated

More than $40m in estimated insured losses have been claimed following the NSW bushfires, with plenty more to come, according to the industry’s national peak body, AAP reports.

Insurance Council Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said more than 360 claims had been made from catastrophe areas, including 80 properties that could be total losses.

Fuller said the catastrophe declaration made by the ICA on Saturday meant every claim would be prioritised by insurers.

Fuller advised policyholders affected by the bushfires to contact their insurers as soon as possible, even if the extent of damage was yet to be determined.

“If they know their home has been badly damaged, then the insurer is made aware of it and can work out how best to help them, because that’s what insurers try to do – lower or reduce the financial, physical and emotional distress that these property owners have experienced,” he said.

Updated

Footage of residents leaving Noosa here:

And photos of the fire:

Leave now issued for Noosa North Shore

A leave now alert has been issued for Noosa North Shore, near Beach Road and the First Cutting, 10km from Noosaville.

“The fire may impact the Wallaby Track soon so residents are advised to leave now, the QFES says. “This fire could have a significant impact on the community.”

“People leaving the area should take the Noosa River Ferry to Moorindil Street.”

Previously, two fires were burning in the area, and have now been combined into one alert. They were at watch and act and advice previously.

“Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave now if it is clear to do so. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.

“An evacuation centre has been established at the Noosa Leisure Centre on Wallace Drive.

“Ground crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water and mobile phone service may be lost.”

Updated

Something from Sydney: a major exhibition of the art of Banksy will be closing abruptly from today – due to heatwave concerns over the next few weeks.

It was above 35C in Sydney yesterday, and in a statement, the exhibition said “the collection of artworks on display in the exhibition’s temporary marquee structure have to be very carefully climate-controlled”.

“This can no longer be guaranteed due to the heatwave, which is forecast to continue over the coming weeks.”

The exhibition was scheduled to run until Sunday 1 December, but will close now.

The Art Of Banksy exhibition at Sydney Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter has been prematurely closed due to concerns over the hot weather affecting the artworks.
The Art Of Banksy exhibition at Sydney Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter has been prematurely closed due to concerns over the hot weather affecting the artworks. Photograph: Steven Saphore/AAP

Updated

Some footage of the bright pink firefighting effort in Turramurra.

Our photo editor Jessica Hromas is on the mid-north coast, and took these photos in Rainbow Flat, where fires rages last weekend.

A wallaby stands in burt out bush in Rainbow Flat, where many houses have been destroyed by fires.
A wallaby stands in burnt-out bush in Rainbow Flat, where many houses have been destroyed by fires. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
The remains of three vehicles by a house that was destroyed in Spicers Rd, Rainbow Flat, NSW. It burnt down on the evening of the 8 November.
The remains of three vehicles by a house that was destroyed in Spicers Road, Rainbow Flat, on the evening of the 8 November. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Updated

Footage of commissioner Fitzsimmons speaking this morning, and a video wrap up of the fires still burning today.

Four alleged breaches of the NSW total fire ban have occurred this week, according to the state’s police.

The first was a 27-year-old man who lit a small campfire at Wallacia in Sydney’s west on Monday to boil water for tea, AAP reports. He extinguished the flames when authorities arrived and was fined $2200.

A 35-year-old man at Lalor Park in Sydney’s west on Tuesday also allegedly burned fence palings in a cylindrical barbecue, causing a fire.

A third man allegedly lit a small coal barbecue.

And a nine-year-old boy was warned in Nowra after he and a group of other children admitted to using a blowtorch to light a grass fire.

There is also a total fire ban in place today.

Updated

Three different weather fronts could cause uncertainty, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner Tony Johnstone has told the ABC.

“We’ve got a cold air and a warm air and when the cold air and the warm air sort of mix we end up with three different wind directions, which can basically turn ... the flank of a fire into a head fire pretty quickly,” he said.

“Potentially ... we could actually have three different weather fronts.”

Updated

One of the major concerns for Queensland right now are the communities west of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, AAP reports.

But the large Cobraball fire near Yeppoon, which has been burning for days, is also a concern. The fire is only 70% contained, and erratic weather and strengthening gusts could fan its flames.

Thirteen of the 14 houses lost in Queensland were as a result of the Cobraball fire.

Gusts are expected to near 50km/h later in the day, with temperatures in some areas 6C to 8C above average.

Updated

An update from Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, where actor Russell Crowe’s property was one of the many affected.

Updated

Last night Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce responded to criticism after he said yesterday that two of the people who died “most likely” were Greens voters. Joyce had said the Greens were to blame for worsening fires because their influence meant fire services had not conducted sufficient hazard-reduction burns.

He told Sky News on Tuesday: “I acknowledge that the two people who died were most likely people who voted for the Green party” but said he did not want to attack them or the Greens but focus on the policy mix.

On Tuesday night he released a statement: “No matter which party an individual votes for, they do not deserve the tragedy that fell upon the Wytaliba bushfire victims.

“Any suggestion that I said otherwise is a deliberate misinterpretation. Tragedies such as this transcend party politics.”

On Monday, Nationals leader and deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said any link between climate change and the worsening bushfires was “woke capital-city greenies ravings” and “cheap political point-scoring”.

Updated

Russell Irving, the project coordinator of the Minyumai Indigenous Protected Area, has written in with an open letter.

The Minyumai protected area is a 2,000 hectare conservation reserve near Woodburn on the north NSW coast. It’s home to endangered animals, provides employment to locals and holds deep cultural significance to the Bundjalung traditional owners.

“Our protected area is currently under direct threat by the Myall Creek fire,” he writes.

“We’ve had fires in previous years which have been controlled and limited in scale due to the annual fuel reduction burns ... These and other fire control measures have become largely ineffectual in the face of the devastating and growing impacts of climate change in the region.

“We are in the grip of a severe drought which has rendered the gullies, waterfalls and creeks bone dry for years. Fuel reduction burns can only rarely be safely conducted due to the shortening winter periods and when fires do occur they are driven by extreme above-average temperatures, hot dry winds and low humidity.

“The 10 Bandjalang Aboriginal rangers we employ and their families are at risk of losing their workplace and livelihoods. Many have lost their homes from the nearby Bora Ridge fire and others are suffering ill health from the smoke.

“We (and many of our small-scale agricultural neighbours) are at threat of becoming members of the rapidly growing number of climate refugees in this country.

“Although we welcome the ‘thoughts and prayers’ of politicians it is not enough ... Australians are crying out for action on manmade climate change.”

Updated

Despite helping to protect his and a few other neighbour’s homes, Col’s neighbour says he feels guilty he wasn’t able to stop the fire tearing through his friend’s property.

“I wasn’t sleeping, just lying in bed about midnight hearing the crash of the trees. I heard a big bang and thought it was just another tree but when I came back here in the morning, it was the roar of the house going.”

A few days later, he’s still reliving Friday night. It was scary, he said, to watch the speed at which the fire moved up the ridge near his home.

“It’s an adrenaline rush, you know, I slept four hours last night and that’s the most I’ve slept in days. I’m tired and I’m aching but I was still up at 5am,” he said.

The road into Rainbow Flat is still cut off, and since the fire he says he’s been living off Vegemite sandwiches. Yesterday, though, a friend dropped off some eggs and a slab of beer so he treated himself to six scrambled eggs and “about 10 beers”.

“And I’ll back it up again,” he told me.

A few days later, people are starting to filter back in but to a very different-looking Rainbow Flat.

Leo and Geesje Carter evacuated on Thursday night and drove to Taree. It took them a couple of days to get back. Their home survived, but they were shocked at how close the fire came to their bush-facing property.

“Luckily the fence survived, I just finished building the thing,” Leo said.

The remains of three vehicles by a house that was destroyed on 8 November in Spicers Road, Rainbow Flat, NSW.
The remains of three vehicles by a house that was destroyed on 8 November in Spicers Road, Rainbow Flat, NSW. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Updated

Col Meredith was one of the few who stayed behind in Rainbow Flat near Taree when fires tore through on Friday night.

“My son lives in Singleton, he was saying ‘Dad just go, go into Forster’, I said mate I’m not going anywhere,” he said this morning.

Col’s house survived, but his neighbour a few hundred metres up the road wasn’t so lucky. Guardian Australia found him clearing their driveway and watching out for potential looters.

Col Meredith stands on his neighbours property on Spicers, Rainbow Flat, NSW that was burnt down on the evening of the 8 November. 13 November 2019.
Col Meredith stands on his neighbour’s property on Spicers, Rainbow Flat, NSW, that was burnt down on the evening of 8 November. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

“The roar of the thing on Friday night, it’s like nothing else, believe me. I was here with the firies and had to come up on to the bitumen just to try to breathe for a minute,” he said.

Updated

Queensland is bracing for another day of fires on par with those in September, which remarkably damaged pockets of subtropical rainforest and the iconic Binna Burra Lodge.

Yesterday police told the Gold Coast Bulletin that fire had been started by a cigarette discarded by a group of teenagers.

On today of all days it should serve as a reminder that the hot, dry and windy conditions can fuel dangerous fires, but that taking precautions and adhering to fire bans could prevent them breaking out in the first instance.

Updated

Science says fire season is worse – commissioner

NSW RFS commissioner Fitzsimmons has just said: “We are mindful that the science is suggesting, and we are experiencing, that fire seasons are starting earlier and are extending longer.”

“There is no doubt that this drought is having a profound effect,” he says.

When asked about the coming summer, he sounds a word of warning.

“The risk is here. The risk is real. We’ve got the worst of the summer, the worst of the season still ahead of us as we head into summer.”

Fitzsimmons says he has never seen better coordination than yesterday – between emergency services, governments, media and more.

“I don’t think the coordination, cooperation, integration arrangements have ever been better in this state than what I’ve observed yesterday,” he said.

“Unequivocally, yesterday, we saw together all the jurisdictions, the state’s agencies, the community, the media, come together like I’ve never seen before, and we will take a lot of lessons out of that.”

Fire and Rescue commissioner Paul Baxter adds that there were 2,000 calls to Triple Zero yesterday.

He paid tribute to the quick work of agencies.

“I think that the reports of minimal loss of property, life and injuries, is indicative of the preparations that have been done by all the agencies.

“The fires that we did see occurring in the urban areas, such as the Turramurra incident yesterday, were dealt with really quickly. We threw a weight of response in and a speed of response and that was an incident that showed fire rescue crews, along with RFS crews and Parks and Wildlife crews, working together seamlessly.”

Updated

Shane Fitzsimmons says there will be hotter, worse conditions next week. And many of the fires burning today will still be burning then.

“We will not have all these fires contained before then,” he says. “We will not have all these fires contained and locked up for many, many weeks.

“Unfortunately, what we need is rain. What we need is meaningful rain. And there is certainly nothing in the forecast for the foreseeable future that’s going to make any discernible difference to the conditions that we are experiencing.”

Updated

9am AEDT update

NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons is speaking in Sydney now.

He says there have now been an estimated 300 homes destroyed since the start of fire season, after 50 were damaged or lost yesterday.

There are 17 fires today at watch and act, with none at emergency. But that is “subject to the weather today” and “we could still see some volatility” and changes to that.

“The reality is it could have bene a whole lot worse,” he says.

And in map form:

The New England fire area – which includes Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Uralla, Walcha and Armidale – is the only one in NSW rated at severe today. Fires have been raging in those areas for days now.

All other areas, all up the north coast, are at very high.

As the political fingerpointing flared up yesterday, and continues today, read this from Graham Readfearn to get the facts behind the debate around hazard reduction.

The latest figures on the bushfires, via AAP.

In NSW:

  • 83 fires are burning, 50 uncontained.
  • More than 1.1 million hectares have burned, more than the past three bushfire seasons combined.
  • The catastrophic fire danger rating has been lowered to “very high” for the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions.
  • Very high fire danger ratings are also in effect for the southern and central ranges and north-western, northern slopes, north coast and far north coast regions.
  • Armidale is one notch higher, with a fire danger rating of “severe”.
  • 3,000 firefighters deployed or on standby, 80 aircraft at the ready, 400 fire trucks in the field.
  • 21 people were injured – 13 of them firefighters and eight members of the public. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

In Queensland:

  • 61 fires burning ahead of dangerous wind change on Wednesday
  • Severe fire danger for the south-east coast (including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast); the Darling Downs and Granite Belt; and the Wide Bay and Burnett region.
  • Temperatures near some fire grounds to reach 6C to 8C above average
  • The Cobraball fire near Yeppoon continues to burn out of control
  • State of fire emergency in force across 42 local government areas, total ban on outdoor fires and activities that can spark fires.

Updated

At least 50 homes were damaged or destroyed yesterday in NSW, the RFS has confirmed.

In South Australia overnight, the fire near Port Lincoln was also contained. It had earlier been at emergency alert on Monday evening.

SA Country Fire Service said: “Fire activity and weather conditions on the fireground have abated with decreasing winds, rising relative humidity and low temperatures continuing to aid firefighting efforts.”

But hot spots and burning trees are expected to burn for several days.

In Western Australia an emergency fire that broke out on the outskirts of Perth was also contained and downgraded yesterday afternoon.

The fire in Bullsbrook in the City of Swan flared up quickly and went to emergency alert as it raced towards homes. But in the evening it was downgraded and contained with no homes destroyed. Residents are still being advised to remain vigilant.

Updated

The Spicers Peak Lodge in Queensland, which has a leave now warning in place, has already been evacuated, AAP reports.

No guests stayed at the lodge overnight and staff were doorknocked early on Wednesday. The Spicers Peak fire is moving quickly and is threatening all buildings nearby.

Meanwhile other parts of the Scenic Rim in Queensland are also facing fires. Local mayor Greg Christensen told ABC radio he fears another black day for his community.

“It has the potential to be, absolutely, because of the severity of the conditions and the number of fire fronts,” he said.

On Tuesday, inmates from the low-security Palen Creek correctional centre, 100km south-east of the lodge, were evacuated to another prison.

For Queensland today, a dramatic wind change to come later on has the potential to shift fire fronts and cause more uncertainty. Conditions are worse today than yesterday, and more than 60 fires are currently burning across the state.

Updated

No NSW fires at emergency

The NSW RFS has confirmed that as of 8.18am AEDT, there are no fires at emergency warning.

Yesterday, there were 19 different fires at emergency, and at its peak, 16 at the same time.

Conditions remain difficult, and fires unpredictable today.

The RFS tweet above has a small typo – it should say “advice or watch and act” rather than “advice or emergency”. The map and current website confirms that there are none at emergency.

Updated

And here is Rodney Smith and his dog Bundy in the bowling club, safe and waiting to go home.

Rodney Smith his dog Bundy were evacuated from their retirement home at Failford due to the fires and are staying at the Tuncurry Bowling Club which is an evacuation centre for the area.
Rodney Smith his dog Bundy were evacuated from their retirement home at Failford due to the fires and are staying at the Tuncurry bowling club which is an evacuation centre for the area. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

Updated

The Tuncurry bowling club on Tuesday night was where residents of the twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry, 35km from Taree, evacuated.

My colleague Michael McGowan was there, speaking to the 80 or so people who had gathered, some of them holding “dogs, birds, cats and goldfish”.

“We’re a bit of a menagerie at the moment and it looks a bit like Noah’s ark out the back,” said the manager, Terry Green.

Police also believe it is possible that the fire in Turramurra was deliberately lit.

AAP report that police have set up a crime scene in the upper north shore suburb as they work to establish the cause of the blaze.

Officers were seen searching a car and speaking to two young males at Canoon Road, they reported.

Yesterday, a nearby fire at Kissing Point Road was also briefly at emergency level but was quickly brought under control and downgraded to advice.

Yesterday evening, an emergency alert was issued for South Turramurra, on the outskirts of north Sydney, as fires tore through scrubland.

It was eventually contained after firefighters dramatically dropped bright pink fire retardant over homes, cars, and even people. Firefighters have spent the night still putting out spot fires in the suburb.

My colleagues Helen Davidson and Christopher Knaus had this report.

Actor Russell Crowe’s home in Nana Glen, 25km from Coffs Harbour, has also been hit by the fires, he confirmed on Wednesday morning.

Queensland is also set for exceptionally poor air quality today – a combination of smoke from fires and airborne dust from the Darling Downs.

Berejiklian confirms no lives lost yesterday

The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has confirmed that no lives were lost yesterday during catastrophic conditions, and said she was “hugely relieved”.

On Tuesday catastrophic conditions were declared for three regions, and 300 new fire fronts were started. Fifteen different fires were at emergency warning level, at various times.

But no lives were lost and nobody is missing.

“I have to confess to being hugely relieved this morning that yesterday our amazing volunteers and emergency service personnel withstood the catastrophic conditions and did manage to save life and property,” Berejiklian told media in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

Three people died last week over Friday and Saturday.

NSW emergency services minister David Elliott said the result was “a dividend paid by the great preparation” of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

NSW remains in a state of emergency and a statewide total fire ban is in place. There are currently 83 fires burning across NSW, 50 of which are uncontained.

Updated

In Queensland this morning, there are six fires at watch and act or higher:

  • Barney View/Palen Creek (Mount Barney fire)
  • Clumber and Moogerah (south of Boonah). Mount Alphen and Double Top is part of this fire
  • Tarome
  • Rosevale (south west of Ipswich)
  • Kilkivan
  • Cobraball/Bungundarra/Maryvale/Lake Mary fire near Rockhampton. The Adelaide Park fire is part of this fire

The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald carried the same striking front page picture by AAP photographer Dan Peled of Sharnie Moren and her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte looking on as bushfires burned near Coffs Harbour.

Sharnie Moren and her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte looking on as bushfires burned near Coffs Harbour.

Updated

AAP has filed this report from Queensland on preparations for today’s extreme conditions across the state:

Residents north of Rockhampton in the path of a raging bushfire have been warned to prepare to leave.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services say the fire is still travelling from Cobraball – south-west of Yeppoon in central Queensland, where homes have been lost in recent days – towards Bungundarra, Maryvale and Lake Mary.

“The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community,” the QFES said early on Wednesday.

Another blaze in Adelaide Park, which forms part of Cobraball bushfire, is also causing concern, with authorities warning it could also get worse.

A “watch and act” warning remains in place as fire crews wait to see if a fire break holds and containment operations are successful.

Meanwhile, a fire in the Mount Lizard area is safely burning within containment lines and backburning operations have been completed nearby, and crews will remain at the scene throughout the day.

Firefighters are battling more than 50 blazes across the state.

The fire threat is set to intensify on Wednesday as a front brings strong winds and high temperatures.

Another primary area of concern is the Scenic Rim, west of the Gold Coast, where defence force personnel have been creating breaks around fires burning in remote terrain since September.

Updated

Emergency warning for Spicers Peak Lodge

At 3.40am AEST, the fire at Spicers Peak Lodge was upgraded to “Leave now”.

QFES says the fire is burning near Spicers Gap and travelling in a south-westerly direction towards Spicers Peak Lodge. The fire is likely to have an impact on Spicers Peak Lodge.

“Residents should leave via Wilkinson Road,” QFES says. “There is a separate warning for Mount Alphen and Double Top and residents should refer to that warning to determine what action they should take.”

Severe fire danger

Hello and welcome back to our continuing coverage of the bushfire crisis across NSW and Queensland.

There are currently two fires at emergency alert level in NSW and one in Queensland that was upgraded this morning.

Today, conditions in Queensland will be worse than yesterday, when 60 fires were already burning. Strong winds and temperatures in the mid-30s are predicted.

Three regions are at severe fire danger levels: Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett, and the south-east. All other parts of the state are at high to very high.

In NSW yesterday, catastrophic fire conditions swept through the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, greater Hunter and greater Sydney. Three hundred new fires were started yesterday and dozens of homes destroyed.

At its peak, 15 fires were at emergency warning, with temperatures in the high 30s, 80km/h winds and only 5% humidity. Firefighters have worked through the night and brought the number of emergency warnings down to two.

If you are in a bushfire-affected area, please stay tuned to your local emergency broadcaster, have a bushfire plan in place, follow instructions from fire crews and avoid bushland areas.

You can find up-to-date information on the NSW fires here, and the Queensland fires here.

If you wish to donate to support those affected, you can find information on that here.

Updated

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Jane Fonda questions Barbra Streisand’s Oscars tribute to Robert Redford
‘She only made one movie with him I made four,’ Fonda said
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
NYC girl goes clubbing for Galantine’s and spots a woman hitting on 2 of her ‘guy friends’. She turned out to be engaged and pregnant
Clubbing stories often center on the bad behavior of men. But New York City TikTok creator Hybee (@hybeereviews) is flipping the script. She’s not telling just any woman’s tale; she was engaged AND pregnant.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
After SNL’s Marcello Hernández Impersonated Him Again, Sebastian Maniscalco Made A Suggestion I Hope Lorne Michaels Sees
It only makes sense.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Ryan Reynolds Posted A Photo Of Himself Wearing Hulk Hands (And Fans Have The Same Raunchy Response)
Well, of course.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
“Melania Trump Clone”: Heidi Klum’s Outfit At The Oscars After Party Triggers Explosive Reactions
“Thought it was Melania for a moment,” said one user.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
German tourist sues New York City taqueria over salsa so spicy ‘it was a very big shock physically and mentally’
Faycal Manz sought $100,000 in damages after claiming that Los Tacos No.1 had failed to warn him about the spiciness of its green salsa
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play