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NationalNSWBushfires

This was published 6 years ago

As the day unfolded: State of emergency declared as South Coast evacuations continue

Josh Dye and Matt Bungard
Updated ,first published

Summary

  • NSW is again in a state of emergency as it braces for a "very dangerous day" of searing temperatures and strong winds on Saturday.
  • An area stretching hundreds of kilometres from Nowra to the Victorian border and west to Kosciuszko has been declared "leave zones".
  • There have been eight deaths since Monday. They include: volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, Patrick Salway, 29, and his 63-year-old father Robert died at Cobargo.
  • There is a total fireban across NSW on Friday. More than 140 fires are still burning across the state, including three at "watch and act" level. 1365 homes have been lost, while 3.6 million hectares have been burnt this fire season.
  • You can call the Bushfire Information Line on 1800 679 737 for the latest on the fires and advice on protecting your property. 

We are closing the blog for the evening

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Thank you for following along today. Again, RFS and weather experts have said that tomorrow is going to be a horrible day in terms of conditions so be sure to stay away from any fire-affected areas if possible. To recap:

  • The death toll for the state's fire season has now risen to 17

  • There are more than 150 fires currently burning around New South Wales
  • Three of those are at "watch and act level", the Currowan, Dunn's Road, and Green Valley fires
  • A state of emergency remains in place
  • Total fire ban in the state for Saturday
  • Extreme fire warnings are in place for all of southern NSW
  • At least 480 million animals killed in NSW alone

Man dies in Yarrowitch, taking fire death toll in NSW to 17

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A man who sustained injuries while fighting the Stockyard Flat fire in Yarrowitch in the state's north-east has died, police said.

The 49-year-old suffered serious burns and was airlifted to Port Macquarie Hospital, before being transferred to Royal North Shore.

Yarrowitch is in the Willi Willi and Cottan-Bombang National Park areas, about 110km west of Port Macquarie.

Police NSW have said that the man died on Sunday, December 29th. That marks 17 total deaths during this fire season in NSW, with nearly 1400 homes lost. 

Man charged after allegedly stealing from Batlow home

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A 19-year-old has been arrested and charged with nine offences, after allegedly breaking into a home in Batlow after the residents had evacuated, and then driving off in their car.

Police say the man broke into a rural property on Old Tumbarumba Road, Batlow, on Thursday afternoon, and later crashed a Ford Falcon into a tree.

When officers searched the vehicle, they found a backpack containing jewellery, documents and ammunition alleged to have been stolen.

The Tumut man was refused bail and will appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Saturday. 

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Escape from Narooma: you can't outrun climate change

By Caitlin Fitzsimmons

We hear the bushfire rather than see it, waking to cracking thunder and dark skies.

Displaced residents line up to use a payphone in Narooma.James Brickwood

At first I think a storm was bringing much-needed rain. But this is no ordinary thunder; it is generated by a fire so large it has its own weather system.

Our plan to find a safe haven on the NSW South Coast for a holiday has failed. Now the five of us - myself, my husband, our two children and a close friend - are in one of the most dangerous parts of the state with no immediate way out.

Read the full story here

Emotional Kyrgios raised $4000 for bushfire relief in opening win

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A day after starting an online movement for sports stars to donate to bushfire relief, Nick Kyrgios' opening performance at the ATP Cup raised $4000, with a comfortable 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.

Kyrgios pledged to donate $200 for every ace he hit this summer, and managed an even 20 in his first win of the season, which took just over an hour. 

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"I don't really care about the praise too much - we've got the ability and the platform to do something like that," he said.

"My home town's Canberra, we've got the most toxic air in the world at the moment so it's pretty sad, it's tough," he said as he held back tears. 

'I don't take any of that personally': PM responds to handshake incident, cricket comments

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The Prime Minister was interviewed on A Current Affair on Friday evening, to address several issues related to the bushfires, including his visit to Cobargo on Thursday.

"People are really hurting," he said. "There's a lot of different receptions wherever you go but I do know that where I was yesterday, people were hurting very much. They were very raw, very angry. I don't take any of that personally."

He again denied walking away from Cobargo resident Zoey McDermott, saying that he would pass her concerns about funding onto the Rural Fire Service.

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TA targets Big Three for seven-figure fundraising frenzy

By Sam Phillips

Tennis Australia is targeting the world's best players to take part in the Rally for Relief as the organisation aims to raise millions for victims of the bushfires.

Nick Kyrgios sparked the seven-figure bushfire fundraising frenzy on Wednesday night, asking Tennis Australia to hold an exhibition match before the Australian Open.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in Tennis Australia's sights to help raise funds for bushfire relief.

That call was answered on Friday by TA, which will host a Rally for Relief at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on January 15.

Read the full story here

Man to face court after allegedly lighting fires on rural property near Jindabyne

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A man has been charged after allegedly lighting fires on his property near Jindabyne without a permit.

Emergency services were called to Kalkite Road, Kalkite, about 8.40pm on Thursday - the fires were extinguished shortly afterwards, with no injuries reported.

Officers from Monaro Police District spoke with the occupant, an 84-year-old man, and it will be alleged he did not have a permit. Just before midday on Friday he was served a court notice for lighting fires without a permit.

The man is due to appear in Cooma Local Court on Wednesday 19 February 2020.

Bushfire victim slams Scott Morrison for walking away

By Janek Drevikovsky

A pregnant Cobargo woman who refused to shake Scott Morrison's hand on Thursday has said all she wanted was for the Prime Minister to discuss increased help for fire services.

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But instead, Mr Morrison "turned his back", said Zoey McDermott, who lost everything she owns in Tuesday's fires.

Read the full story here

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Thousands to remain without power in NSW

By Mike Foley

Essential Energy crews have restored power to more than 22,285 NSW customers who were left without power over the past 72 hours.

Priority was given to critical services in bushfire-affected areas including hospitals, nursing homes, and petrol stations.

As of 4.00pm on Friday 9,715 customers were without power. That number is expected to rise over the weekend.

Essential Energy expects further network damage from catastrophic fire conditions tomorrow.

Customers in some areas are advised they could be without power well into next week, or possibly longer.

Essential Energy said people should stay at least eight metres away from any fallen or damaged powerlines and report them on 13 20 80.

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