Australian bushfires live: Firefighter dies battling bushfires in Vic, Scott Morrison announces plan for royal commission
Highlights
A new bushfire map using NASA satellite images
Scott Morrison calls for royal commission into bushfire disaster
Mum, dad die separately after evacuating bushfires
Aussie's bushfire video goes viral
Toll on Kangaroo Island includes 32,000 sheep
More than a million fires detected
Sydney choked by bushfire smoke again
Veteran newsman breaks down on live TV
Warning: Feeding koalas water from a bottle could kill
PM concedes bushfire handling errors
Out-of-control blaze threatens tourist spot
Relief after overnight NSW bushfire battle
A new bushfire map using NASA satellite images shows just how bad Australia's bushfire season has become. And it'll get worse from here.Marnie O' Neill news.com.au Last updated January 12, 2020
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Scott Morrison calls for royal commission into bushfire disaster (ABC)
Scott Morrison will take a proposal to cabinet to establish a royal commission into the bushfire tragedy.
The Victorian bushfire death toll has risen to four after a firefighter died battling a blaze in the state’s alpine region.
The Forest Fire Management Victoria firefighter from Parks Victoria was killed while battling a blaze in the Omeo area on Saturday, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed.
While bushfire conditions have eased, Mr Crisp warned there was a “long way to go” before the state’s fire season was over.
Milder conditions are forecast for the next week to 10 days, meaning attention can turn to getting the upper hand on the more than 20 fires still burning. Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said relieving exhausted emergency services workers was also a priority.
More than 1.3 million hectares have been razed since November 21, while 286 homes and 400 other buildings have been damaged.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded there are things he could have handled better in terms of the devastating bushfires.
Mum, dad die separately after evacuating bushfires
Rohan SmithTragedy has followed a NSW mum and dad who died 11 days apart after being evacuated because of bushfires.
The Daily Telegraph reports Stephanie Culliton, 76, and Tony Culliton, 77, had both been unwell for some time.
The parents of acclaimed artists Lucy and Anna Culliton died separately in Canberra and Bombala Hospitals after being evacuated from their property in the Blue Mountains suburb of Little Hartley to stay with Lucy in Bibbenluke in the Snowy Monaro region of NSW.
The couple's children were worried the Little Hartley property would be impacted by the Gospers Mountain fire.
Aussie's bushfire video goes viral
Rohan SmithAustralian actor Ben Lawson has captured a feeling familiar to so many Australians right now in a video that has, rightfully, gone viral.
The former Neighbours' star, who took his talents abroad more than 10 years ago, put pen to paper to write a poem that captured his emotions at seeing his home country burn.
In the six-minute video, titled 'To my country, from an expat', tears fill Lawson's eyes as he recalls watching reports on Australia's bushfire crisis from afar.
My heart stopped for a second, and my throat became too tight.
Her name was in the headlines, she didn't look alright.
I had to sit, I couldn't quite believe my own two eyes.
She looked unrecognisable, I'd never seen those skies.
View this post on Instagram
Thank you to all those who have stepped up to help us so far! If you can spare a few bucks please go to @cfavic @sa_countryfireservice @qldfire @nswrfs @tasmaniafireservice @wireswildliferescue @rspcaaustralia @wwf_australia @portmacquariekoalahospital @wildlifevictoria @buyfromthebush Thank you x 🐨
A post shared by Ben Lawson (@bennyvegas) on Jan 9, 2020 at 12:29pm PST
The video has been viewed more than 73,000 times. In comments, Aussies thanked Lawson for saying what they had not been able to.
"Brilliant. I'm in tears," one woman wrote. "Hugs from Australia. She'll be right mate."
She will indeed.
Lawson has guest starred in US sitcoms Modern Family and Covert Affairs and recently appeared in Designated Survivor on Netflix.
Toll on Kangaroo Island includes 32,000 sheep
Rohan SmithThe fires that burn relentlessly on South Australia's beautiful Kangaroo Island have claimed more than 32,000 sheep, more than 500 head of cattle, 65 alpacas and five horses, according to reports.
The Australian Associated Press reports agriculture experts have taken stock on the scale of the disaster.
The fires, which have burned through 210,000 hectares on the island, reportedly impacted on 800 bee hives. Kangaroo Island is home of the unique Ligurian bee, which is protected from disease by strict rules, including restrictions on products like honey and wax, hives and equipment.
Kangaroo Island Australia, before and after 🥺😢 pic.twitter.com/Ri7wj1a2yU— justcallmechrissy🧚♂️ (@chrissytwittwit) January 7, 2020Tens of thousands of livestock and hundreds of beehives have been destroyed on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.
Country Fire Service incident controller Ian Tanner says non-essential travel to Kangaroo Island is best postponed.
“If you do need to come here to support relatives and friends, then it’s OK to come,” he said.
“But if you don’t need to come to Kangaroo Island at this point in time, then please give us a bit longer to get this sorted.”
— With Karen Sweeney
More than a million fires detected
Rohan SmithAustralia's bushfire season has been enormous, but it might be bigger than you thought.
According to satellite images from NASA, there have been more than a million infrared heat signatures indicating fire since September.
The Washington Post has created a heat map showing just how frequently fire activity has broken out.
Clever graphic from @washingtonpost on the staggering number of infrared heat signatures spotted in Australia since the bushfire season began. https://t.co/DdmtZKmWWa pic.twitter.com/RZmP20mQ5z— Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) January 12, 2020
Since the start of the 2019 season, more than 10 million hectares has been burned.
To put this into perspective, an area the size of the Netherlands has been burned in NSW alone.
Sydney choked by bushfire smoke again
Large swathes of NSW have again been blanketed in smoke as bushfires continue to ravage the state, as air quality raged from poor to hazardous.
According to the NSWRFS, the haze has been worst in Sydney and the state's southeast along the coast all the way to the Victorian border.
"With easing conditions, we have also seen an increase in smoke impacting a number of areas across the state," it tweeted.
In Sydney, where the temperature was just 18 degrees at 2pm, people are reporting the smoke is having a major impact on everything from health to solar panels.
Running in the sun… #sydneysmoke pic.twitter.com/UIRbeXOMvI— alexandermayesphotography (@AM81photography) January 12, 2020
Sydney's thick smoke haze at 12.50pm stopping all but 8w of solar power generation on our roof. Add the cost of extra power bills to the community cost o the fires, Mr Morrison #sydneysmoke pic.twitter.com/cIRYh0FugN— Simon Chapman AO (@SimonChapman6) January 12, 2020
"My experience as a tourist today in Sydney: My lungs are ," wrote Fiona Mathieson on Twitter.
"My lungs are burning, my sinuses are aching. I can't stop can’t stop sneezing because of the irritation & today we are avoiding the smoked out cbd and seeking shelter in Hoyts Chatswood instead.
"It must be apocalyptic at the firegrounds."
Air quality in Sydney is very poor to hazardous again 😷 @WebcamSydney #sydneysmoke is having health implications @NSWHealth I was shocked at the number of people being treated from smoke/air quality in Sydney during the week when I had 5 stitches in my leg. pic.twitter.com/RVUpjHKNjN— mOrganics-kim.morgan (@mOrganicsKim) January 12, 2020
There are new health warnings over the bushfire smoke blanketing Sydney today. A poor 'Air Quality Forecast' alert has been issued by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. https://t.co/OF81oZFF1j #SydneySmoke #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/MwbY6RBxte— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 12, 2020
Veteran newsman breaks down on live TV
Journalist Ron Wilson has broken down on live TV after the bushfire coverage triggered his own traumatic memories of surviving a natural catastrophe 45 years ago.
As a guest on Sunrise this morning, Mr Wilson was asked if a $76 million package towards the mental health of bushfire survivors would be enough.
“It is an enormous project and (trauma) not just this week, next week, it can go on for years,” he said.
“I’ve actually sat on the couch here in this studio and been in tears thinking about the Cyclone Tracy which I went through 45 years ago and you never really get past it. …And….And…I can’t even talk about it now.”
Despite his overwhelmingly sad emotions, Mr Wilson was also happy about the injection into mental health.
“You’re rebuilding lives (with that money),” he said. “You’re not building things. You’re rebuilding lives.”
Ron Wilson and Melissa Hoyer join Matt to discuss the Governments $76 million injection into mental health support for bushfire victims. pic.twitter.com/9DvFc4JnKR— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) January 11, 2020
Warning: Feeding koalas water from a bottle could kill
A wildlife shelter has issued an urgent warning about feeding koalas water from a bottle because it can kill them.
"Please DO NOT GIVE WATER TO KOALAS BY POURING WATER FROM BOTTLES INTO THEIR MOUTHS, Animalia Wildlife Shelter in Frankston, Victoria said.
"With all the Facebook posts about people caring for wildlife amidst the fire and heat disasters over these past weeks, a silent tragedy is happening.
"Koalas are DYING because people are trying to help but don't understand how a koala actually drinks."
The shelter cited the case of Arnie, a koala who survived a bushfire with minor burns to his feet and hands in the town of Bairnsdale but died after a group of good Samaritans fed him some water from their bottle.
Read the full post here
According to one Frankston Animal Shelter, you can kill a koala by pouring water from a bottle – as they don’t drink like that, if at all. Some have even died from water on the lungs. Makes you wonder what happened to all those koalas in the viral videos. 🐨😢 pic.twitter.com/h41dp0wz23— Andy Park (@andy_park) January 11, 2020
Earlier this month, TV vet Dr Chris Brown also warned against the well-intentioned but potentially deadly act, advising people to let koalas drink at their own pace.
"While it might look great on the ‘gram, offering a koala a drink from a bottle isn’t without risks," he wrote.
"If water is forced down the throat of a stressed or weakened koala, it can easily end up in their lungs, causing a potentially deadly pneumonia.
"The safest bet is actually to pour it into a bowl (if available) and let them drink the water from there."
Matt YoungCouple accused of looting in fire-ravaged townA mother and her boyfriend allegedly raided a shop which had been burned by bushfires and stole hundreds of dollars worth of electrical items.
Kylie Pobjie, 31, and plumber Leon Elton, 38, are accused of driving two hours through smoke to ransack the store in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast on Wednesday.
The pair was arrested on Friday after police raided two homes following reports of looting on the NSW South Coast.
Stolen goods were allegedly seized from the properties at Narooma and Tilba Tilba and Pobjie and Elton were arrested later that evening.
Both were charged with larceny and entering a building to commit an indictable offence. Elton faces an additional charge of drug possession.
A third person was arrested on Saturday after police intercepted a Mazda sedan in Batemans Bay and allegedly found mobile phones inside the car.
They allege the phones were stolen from the same electrical goods business allegedly ransacked by Pobjie and Elton.
A 26-year-old man who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was charged with receiving stolen property.
He was refused bail to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court on Sunday.
Anyone with information about unsafe or unlawful behaviour in the bushfire affected region is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
4:01 pmJanuary 12, 2020
Sydney Opera House lights up to support firefighters
Matt YoungThe Sydney Opera House lit up its sails on Saturday night in a show of support for those in fire-ravaged communities and the firefighters who are still fighting the blaze.
The colourful display featured images from photographers who have been capturing the fires that have been going on for months.
The message is a positive one and has a special focus on the moments of solidarity and hope that were captured on camera over the last three months.
Thank-you @NSWRFS for all you have done! You are all truly amazing! 🇦🇺 💕 #thankyoufiries #nswrfs #australianspiritprevails #australianfires #bushfire #AustraliaisBurning #sydneyoperahouse #sydney #australia pic.twitter.com/LzRQsnh5xn— Jane Alexander (@janevalex) January 11, 2020
Read the full story here.
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