Canada has sent down some firefighters to help out over the next few weeks. Here they are in Sydney.
Shane Fitzsimmons
(@RFSCommissioner)Was pleased to meet and welcome our Canadian colleagues in Sydney this morning. 21 Incident Management Team & Aviation Specialists receiving a briefing today before being deployed to assist with fire fighting across NSW. Thank you for your assistance. #NSWRFS #canadadownunder pic.twitter.com/wVBjCCHkir
Residents of Cypress Gardens and Forest Ridge are being advised to prepare to leave.
The Milmerran fire is at watch and act stage.
Qld Fire & Emergency
(@QldFES)PREPARE TO LEAVE: Cypress Gardens and Forest Ridge (part of Milmerran fire) bushfire as at 1.30pm Fri 6 Dec. https://t.co/mcLmgJA2H3
This video from the RFS shows how the embers from the Green Wattle bush fire are being carried away from the fire.
NSW RFS
(@NSWRFS)This video shows the dangers of embers being blown ahead of some of the large fires burning across NSW. This is the Green Wattle bush fire burning near Lake Burragorang. The fire is impacting on the area around Nattai.#nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/92n2ymWbS5
The federal minister for emergency management, David Littleproud, has announced that Victorians who were affected by fires in Baw Baw, Cardinia and Latrobe can now apply for disaster recovery payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.
Additionally those affected by the fires at the time will also now have access to up to 13 weeks of income support.
People can lodge claims from Monday 9am. More information is available here.
David Littleproud
(@D_LittleproudMP)Payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child are now available for those worst-hit by bushfires in February and March this year in the Baw Baw, Cardinia and Latrobe council areas. pic.twitter.com/uunlOjpN1P
It’s a hot one in Queensland.
Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland
(@BOM_Qld)The heat is on: at noon the temp 37.5C in Brisbane, 38 Amberley, 31.2 Townsville, 31.6 Cairns, 38.3 Mt Isa, 32.5 Bundaberg, 37.1 Gayndah, 38.7 Longreach, 38.5 Gatton. Top temp 40.5 Julia Creek. For more #heatwave #QueenslandWeather obs, go to https://t.co/rDawjGm3X4 pic.twitter.com/eB4sWwuPkJ
Sydney’s lord mayor, Clover Moore, has announced that an extreme weather plan has been activated for the city’s rough sleepers. That means getting extra water out to people on the streets, help for those with respiratory issues, and temporary accommodation.
Libraries and other community centres are also being opened up to accommodate people during opening hours.
Clover Moore
(@CloverMoore)A lot of you have contacted me about rough sleepers affected by the smoke in our city.
You’re right to be concerned – as the thick smoke settles over Sydney and authorities advise us to spend less time outdoors, we must look after those who don’t have a place of their own.
Updated
Meanwhile in Queensland, residents around Bundaberg, Noosa and Gympie are being urged to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke in the areas.
Qld Fire & Emergency
(@QldFES)?SMOKE ALERT?
Smoke is visible along the coast, from Bundaberg to Noosa and out to Gympie as a result of the Fraser Island fire. This smoke has been produced by a burn off within containment lines. Pls close windows and doors and keep medications close by.
That would be the Paddock Run, Little L Complex and Gospers Mountain fires overlapping.
Three fires connecting in NSW north of Sydney Photograph: RFS
Last night I spoke to Tassin Barnard, the owner of a wildlife sanctuary on the NSW central coast that is currently under threat from the huge fires in that region. Barnard with her team and some helpful members of the public managed to evacuate over 300 animals, including kangaroos, koalas, chickens, emus, and two old wombats in a matter of hours.
You can read more about that massive evacuation effort here.
Updated
Emergency warning Green Wattle Creek fire
An emergency warning has been issued for the Green Wattle Creek fire in the Wollondilly local government area.
NSW RFS
(@NSWRFS)EMERGENCY WARNING – Green Wattle Creek fire, Lake Burragorang area (Wollondilly LGA)
Fire is expected to impact on the Nattai Village this afternoon. Roads are affected by fire and it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire front approaches. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/shOuZJyMbV
The sheer size of the Gospers Mountain fire is worth putting into context. Just before midday, the NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, held a press conference with the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, where he outlined what firefighters were facing today.
Some of the mid-north coast fires added up to 300,000 hectares, while the Gospers Mountain fire was 200,000 hectares alone, he said.
“If you took that one fire north of Sydney and put it in the CBD, it would stretch from the coast of the north and south heads and would go all the way back and be into the lower Blue Mountains. You’re talking large fires on the outer rim of the Sydney environment.”
The smoke blanketing Sydney is likely to stick around for a while too, he said, unless there were good, strong easterly winds.
Updated
Josh Taylor here taking over from Naaman Zhou. Here’s where we are at in New South Wales as we enter into Friday afternoon.
There are currently 104 fires burning in NSW, with 59 yet to be contained. Six of those fires are at emergency warning level and seven are at watch and act.
More details on those fires can be found here.
NSW RFS
(@NSWRFS)As conditions worsen across the state, fire activity is increasing. At 1pm, there are 104 fires burning across the state, with 59 yet to be contained. Six fires are at Emergency Warning and seven are at Watch and Act. Know what you will do if fire threatens. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/VZ0J8BKdBE
