NSW and Qld fires: three emergency warnings issued for out-of-control bushfires – live

New South Wales residents prepare for catastrophic fire conditions across Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra/Shoalhaven with strong winds and high temperatures forecast as dozens of bushfires continue to burn across Queensland and Australia’s east coast• NSW fires: almost 600 schools closed today amid catastrophic bushfire conditions • Catastrophic fire danger: what does it mean?• If you are in a bushfire affected area stay tuned to your local emergency broadcaster. Full alerts can be found here for NSW and here for Queensland 1.50am GMT The NSW Rural Fire Service has just issued an emergency warning for Whans Road, Llangothlin, north of Armidale and south of Glen Innes. A fire is now burning there and spreading quickly. The RFS has advised anyone in the area of Llangothlin and its surrounds that it is now too late to leave. It has advised those in the area to seek shelter as the fire approaches. EMERGENCY WARNING: Whans Rd, Llangothlin (Armidale LGA)Fire is burning near Llangothlin and spreading quickly. Properties are under threat. If you are in the area of Llangothlin and surrounds, it is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/BiQshYdHqb 1.47am GMT It’s Christopher Knaus here taking over our live coverage of the bushfire emergency from Naaman Zhou. The bushfires have caused significant deteriorations to air quality across NSW and south-east Queensland. Much of Sydney and the Hunter regions have been advised to “stay inside as much as possible” as winds push smoke from the devastating mid-north coast bushfires down the state’s east coast. A drop in air quality is also hitting the Illawarra region, south of Sydney. Related: Hazardous air quality warning as smoke from bushfires spreads across NSW and Queensland Continue reading…
Via: NSW and Qld fires: three emergency warnings issued for out-of-control bushfires – live