Three people reported missing after house destroyed in bushfire have been found safe
Three people who were reported as missing have been found and are safe, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says.
We are grateful for everyone for supporting those people, to keep them safe.
The premier is also providing an update on the man in his 60s who died near a fire ground after he was found in his vehicle.
While his death is not directly related to the fires, the fact this death occurred in such close proximity to the fire ground means this is a community that is grieving and my thoughts are with his family and the broader community.
Allan, who says her own community has been told to evacuate, thanks those who have followed advice by emergency authorities saying that, as emergency warnings are issued, “communities did respond”.
I know how hard it is to leave your home, not knowing when or what you will return to. It has saved lives. Again, I thank Victorians for following that advice.
Key events
Victorian Police commissioner Mike Bush has asked residents to respect instructions at roadblocks.
Please, I implore you to follow the instructions of emergency services personnel who are out there. The reason they give these instructions is very much for your own safety.
He says that the man in his 60s who was found dead in his vehicle is not considered to be related to the fear, but the cause of death will be investigated by the coroner.
Wiesbusch says there has been “significant losses” as a result of the fires.
At the Ravenswood and Harcourt fire, there have been approximately 50 structures lost to the fire – although this is an conservative early estimate with expectations that it will grow.
The Bendigo Railway line has been affected and is closed with a temporary bus service to replace trains.
At the Longwood Fire, 30 structures have been lost with impact assessments still occurring in the area.
Livestock, vineyards and cropping land have been lost at the Natimuk Fire in Victoria’s west, with 20 structures lost and significant impacts on livestock.
At the Yarrowee fire in Victoria’s north on the Murray Valley Highway, ten structures have been lost to fire along with damage to agricultural land.
At the Streatham Fire, five structures have been confirmed.
There have been small loses at the Walwa and but 10,000 hectares, including pine plantations, have been lost.
Victoria’s firefighting effort has been aided by 160 personnel from instate with another 32 arriving from other parts of Australia.
Wiesbuch said he put out a request for extra resources from other states, but also internationally, to support the state “over the next month” but more information will be provided “in the coming days”.
More fires expected in Victoria after lightning overnight
More fires are expected in Victoria today as the result of lightning overnight, the emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, says.
Victoria has experienced 200 fires, he says, with 11 growing into major fires, and while this has eased, “many of those major fires will continue to burn for days, if not weeks”.
Those looking to return to their properties are advised to check current warnings.
If you are no longer in the warning footprint, it is safe for you to return to those areas, but you need to remain alert because we still have those 10 major fires in the landscape.
But Wiebusch asks that people stay away from the “fire footprints” until they are declared safe to return, out of concern for roads in and out of communities becoming jammed.
The areas currently covered by the state of disaster are:
Personal Hardship Payments will be made available to those in fire-affected communities, with further information to be made available through the Emergency Vic Hotline, Allan says.
These payments provide funds to buy clothes, food and medication in emergency situations.
This will not be the end of the assistance for those fire-affected communities as those impact assessments are undertaken – we know there is a long recovery journey ahead.
To those wondering about whether they can return, the Premier says work is being done on that at the moment but strong winds make the situation “difficult and dangerous” as the situation is “unpredictable and can change very, very quickly”.
What can look safe one moment can be a very dangerous, difficult situation the next. So, please continue to stay informed. Follow the advice, support our emergency services, and take care of family and loved ones.
Three people reported missing after house destroyed in bushfire have been found safe
Three people who were reported as missing have been found and are safe, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says.
We are grateful for everyone for supporting those people, to keep them safe.
The premier is also providing an update on the man in his 60s who died near a fire ground after he was found in his vehicle.
While his death is not directly related to the fires, the fact this death occurred in such close proximity to the fire ground means this is a community that is grieving and my thoughts are with his family and the broader community.
Allan, who says her own community has been told to evacuate, thanks those who have followed advice by emergency authorities saying that, as emergency warnings are issued, “communities did respond”.
I know how hard it is to leave your home, not knowing when or what you will return to. It has saved lives. Again, I thank Victorians for following that advice.
Ten major fire fronts continue to burn across Victoria, with 20 smaller fires
Ten major fire fronts continue to burn across Victoria, with another 20 smaller fires that require monitoring.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, and state emergency authorities are giving an update on conditions in Victoria.
Allan says there are 19 current emergency warnings in place and a further 16 watch and act notifications, particularly around Walwa, Longwood, Wonnangatta and Ravenswood.
It is thought more than 300,000 hectares of land has been burnt and 38,000 households and businesses are now without power as a result of the fire.
As fires are brought under control, impact assessments will begin to take place and that information will be released, Allan says.
Tory Shepherd
Some more on the reports that a man was found dead – police have confirmed that a man has been found dead in his car near the Ravenswood South bushfire, but believe the death was not directly related to the fire.
Victoria Police said in a statement that emergency services found him in his car, in his paddock, at about 4.45pm on Friday night. Detectives are investigating the death of the man, believed to be in his 60s, and police will prepare a report for the coroner. According to the statement:
At this early stage, the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are unknown however the death is not believed to be directly related to the nearby fire.
Local detectives, who weren’t able to attend the scene immediately due to the nearby fires, attended the scene Friday evening once the immediate area was deemed safe.
The property the vehicle was found in was not impacted by fire.
Eelemarni Close-Brown
Western Sydney readies for the heat
On extreme heat days, western Sydney is usually several degrees hotter than the city centre.
Libraries, community centres, cinemas and swimming pools offer much needed cool spaces for residents and tourists to escape the heat.
In Parramatta, the PHIVE is one such place.
Winnie Laio, a psychology student, says she does have air-conditioning at home, but it struggles in the heat, so she is spending the day at the hub.
If it gets really hot and sweaty at home then I’ve just been taking a cold shower and then putting some cold water on my clothes and then putting them on.
Yunita Ou says she walks to the PHIVE so that her daughter, Olivia, can enjoy the playpen and air-conditioning.
We have the fan and aircon at home but we came up to play since we cannot play at the park, obviously, since it’s too hot for the kids, so we came to the PHIVE.
Sydney prepares to swelter
As the city anticipates the rising mercury, preparations have already begun.
Some local councils, such as Canterbury Bankstown, have extended opening hours for pools and libraries, providing the local community with places to cool down.
Zookeepers at Taronga zoo are making sure animals are able to cool down – with opportunities to swim, and treats “blood-sicles” – ice blocks made with meat, blood and water – for the lions.
The University of Sydney is running a pop-up cooling hub at Belmore Park to help prevent heat-illness during the extreme temperatures.
Fire danger warnings for NSW
Petra Stock
Heat and gusty winds are expected to bring elevated fire danger through eastern parts of NSW today, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a maximum of 43C for Sydney, with temperatures expected to be even hotter in the western suburbs.
Extreme fire danger was expected throughout much of the state’s south-east – including greater Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven, southern ranges, Monaro alpine and the southern slopes, as well as Canberra, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Total fire bans were in place for those districts as well as the central ranges, greater Hunter and far south coast.
Tasmania was also expecting elevated fire risk on Saturday, with the Tasmania Fire Service declaring a total fire ban for the state’s south and the Furneaux Islands.
The ACT has also declared a total fire ban.
Capital city forecast for Saturday:
Sydney: sunny, maximum 43C.
Canberra: windy, sunny, maximum 37C.
Darwin: showers, storm, maximum 32C.
Perth: mostly sunny, maximum 32C.
Melbourne: becoming windy, partly cloudy, maximum 27C.
Brisbane: shower or two, maximum 31C.
Adelaide: cloudy, maximum 24C.
Hobart: shower or two, maximum 21C.
The Victoria state of disaster applies to the following areas:
Queensland ‘better prepared than ever before’ for floods, premier says
Queensland is better prepared than “at any other time in our history”, as it rides out a deluge, the premier, David Crisafulli, says.
Speaking to the ABC from the state’s emergency services complex, the premier says swift water rescue, police, firefighters, SES and ambulance officers are prepared.
I want Queenslanders to know we are better prepared than ever before.
The premier says “big rainfalls on the swollen catchments” are expected in north-west Queensland, with graziers in the region reporting about 40,000 live stock lost already.
That gives you an indication of the scale. That number will multiply many times over is my great fear.
Crisafulli says “a dozen councils” have already been made eligible for primary producer support, including fodder drops and small and family business support.
More will come. That is increased from $2m to $7m. More will come as needed. The fodder drops have kept animals alive as animals perished. There will be bacterial infections with animals in water.
We have to pick up the people, great Queenslanders, who represent us as a state. I want them to know that we stand ready to assist across the government.
Man reportedly found dead and homes destroyed in Ravenswood fire
A person has reportedly died and homes have been destroyed in the Ravenswood fire.
The Bendigo Advertiser reports that the Ravenswood fire incident controller, Michael Masters, said in his latest update that “a number” of homes have been affected by the out of control fire, with firefighters having received reports of a death.
No details were provided about what has taken place.
Early reports from the ABC say that a man in his 60s was found dead in his vehicle in Ravenswood South but that his death was not believed to be directly related to the fire.
The situation is developing rapidly. The Guardian is working to confirm and will bring you all the latest as things develop.
Man dies after being found with gunshot wound in western Sydney
Moving away from fire coverage for a moment, New South Wales police are expected to speak to reporters on Saturday morning to give an update after a man was shot in western Sydney.
Emergency services were called to a unit block at Merrylands at about 6.40am this morning after a 44-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound.
The man died despite efforts by police and paramedics at resuscitation.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation is under way, with members of the public who might have information or video footage encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Det Acting Supt Tim Calman will speak to reporters at 10.30am.
Heffernan says residents in fire-affected areas can expect cooler temperatures “in the high 20s to low 30s” with westerly winds, particularly across the Otway region.
Emergency services are concerned about wind speeds in the area, with speeds up to 80km expected, which will continue for most of the day.
Any areas of elevation – so particularly through the alpine regions – the wind speeds will be higher again, so any of those fires in the alpine regions, those far East Gippsland, yes, we can probably expect further easterly spread of those fires, with those embers being thrown well in advance of the fire front.
Wind change is acting on Victorian bushfires, CFA chief warns
Westerly winds are acting on the Longwood fire as it continues to burn out of control, the Victorian Country Fire Authority chief, Jason Heffernan, says.
Heffernan is speaking to the ABC from the Victorian State Control Centre, giving an update on conditions affecting the fireground.
He says there are an estimated 37,000 people without power in the region and residents in affected areas should make sure to have battery-powered radios tuned to emergency broadcasters on Saturday.
Speaking about the Walwa fire, Heffernan says “we are still confronting that situation” as it is expected the fireground will start to be affected by westerly winds.
So that Walwa fire, which has been travelling in a south-easterly direction for most of the night and morning, will now travel easterly and the warnings have been updated.
People in that area, I need to you be really careful about which warning you are looking at and which direction you want to go, because we obviously want you to not drive into the path of the fire.
Heffernan says these same winds are also having an impact on a grassfire at Ravenswood.
That fire really spread rapidly late yesterday afternoon and then we saw that wind change come through. It has impacted the communities of Harcourt and continues to travel east after obviously crossing the Calder Highway. It is a quite a concerning situation at that fire in Harcourt and firefighters are actively working to contain that one.
Victorian firefighters given access to defence force barracks accommodation
Firefighters with Victoria’s Country Fire Authority have been given access to Australian Defence Force barracks after a request for accommodation support, the prime minister says.
Once again, we see our Defence Force personnel providing that support, both through personnel but also through infrastructure.
The PM says the federal government is ready to support Victoria after a state of emergency was declared.
Australians are facing extreme and dangerous weather conditions, PM says
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has spoken to reporters after a tour of the National Situation Room in Canberra on Saturday morning.
Australians across the country are facing extreme and dangerous weather conditions, with bushfires burning in multiple states, but particularly Victoria, and severe weather across far north Queensland and the north-west Queensland region. My thoughts are with the residents of these communities at this very difficult time.
The PM has praised rural and country fire services, volunteers, police and emergency coordinators for their efforts to prepare for this fire season.
He says that these preparations means responses “can be very fast”. He adds that he has spoken with the Victorian and Queensland premiers and will remain “in regular, ongoing contact” with both.
I want to specifically send my thoughts to those Victorians who have had the devastating news that they’ve lost their homes over the last 24 hours.
The press conference is moving to questions now, with the premier providing more detail over the request for assistance by the Victorian Country Fire Authority.
He says a request has been made for additional strike teams, “as well as a number of aircraft and ancillary support” in the last 24 hours.
These aircraft have already been pre-positioned at the border in case the fires burning in Victoria cross the Murray.
In response to other questions, Minns says he is not aware of any requests for assistance from Queensland, which has been dealing with a cyclone.
Across the eastern seaboard, we work really closely with the other premiers, the other emergency services. And look, we’re all Australians. It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight a fire, or help with the cyclone when it occurs.
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