The helicopter crash-landed while fighting the fire at Pechey. Photo / ABC
The helicopter crash-landed while fighting the fire at Pechey. Photo / ABC
Key points: • 83 fires are burning in New South Wales, 50 of which are not contained; • One blaze west of Coffs Harbour covers 150,000 hectares, with a perimeter of more than 1000km; • 'At least 50' homes in NSW were damaged or destroyed yesterday; • The wind change that caused havoc in NSW yesterday is now moving into Queensland; • More than 72 fires are burning across Queensland; • Oz smoke plume to hit NZ: What you need to know
Emergency NSW fire downgraded
8.25pm:
A fire previously burning at emergency level on the NSW Mid Coast has been downgraded to a Watch and Act level.
The Hillville Rd fire at Hillville, near Taree, was downgraded after conditions eased in the area.
— Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (@WRHS_official) November 12, 2019
Pilot walks away after crash
8pm:
The pilot of a waterbombing helicopter has walked away with minor injuries after crash-landing while battling a blaze in the Pechey area.
We’re getting chopper vision of the water-bombing helicopter which crashed at Pechey on the Darling Downs. The pilot is in a stable condition. pic.twitter.com/ygIwQ5soTu
It is understood the incident occurred when the helicopter was attempting to land in windy conditions.
Paramedics said the helicopter, operated by McDermott Aviation, "landed heavily" just before 2pm.
The pilot, who is in his 70s, was taken to Toowoomba Hospital in a stable condition.
Emergency level fires threaten homes in Western Australia
7.55pm:
Two homes have reportedly already gone up in flames in the Geraldton area in Western Australia.
Two bushfires are threatening houses in the area with two emergency alerts issued, one for the southern part of Utakarra and another for coastal Glenfield and Drummond Cove.
"Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so.
"If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire.
"If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous."
Buxton residents should evacuate the area by heading west along Buxton Road.
Residents in a town in the Gympie Region have also been told to evacuate.
A large fire is burning in Kilkivan in the vicinity of the Des Simpson Memorial and is heading in a south-easterly direction towards Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road.
The fire is likely to impact Thornside Road and Upper Thornside Road within 15 minutes.
"Those residents looking to self-evacuate should travel along Thornside Road onto Upper Widgee Road heading towards Gympie," QFES said.
"QFES alongside Queensland Police Service (QPS) are doorknocking in the area to ensure the safety of residents."
Men charged after allegedly impersonating firefighters
7.15pm:
Several people have been charged in relation to yesterday's fires, with some allegedly caught trying to impersonate firefighters.
A 36-year-old Lismore man was arrested yesterday after equipment branded with RFS and another emergency agency was found when a search warrant was executed at his NSW home.
He has been charged with dishonestly obtaining benefit by deception, having goods in custody suspected of being stolen, and vehicle registration offences.
He was refused bail to appear in Lismore Local Court today.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old man was also charged with impersonating an emergency services officer and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen, after he was arrested dressed in a Fire and Rescue NSW uniform at Loftus about 9.30pm yesterday .
He was released on strict conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on December 4.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said five others were caught allegedly lighting fires during the total fire ban.
"That included five individuals aged between 18 and 28 years, two for lighting barbecues, two attempting to incinerate waste and lighting candles," he said.
"The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path. Fire crews may not be able to protect your property.
"You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now."
Residents evacuating should travel along the New England Highway towards an evacuation centre which has been established at Highfields Sport and Recreation Park, 220 Barracks Road, Highfields.
Hillville fire flares up again
6.40pm:
A fire burning on NSW's Mid Coast has been upgraded to emergency level.
The out of control blaze on Hillville Rd, Hillville has already burnt through more than 22,800 hectares.
Firefighters fighting the Hillville blaze. Photo / news.com.au
Queensland fire sparks emergency declaration
6pm:
Queensland Police have made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act due to a dangerous grass fire burning in the Bundaberg Region.
The Woodgate blaze has sparked an exclusion zone around Burrum River west of the Bruce Highway, Bruce Highway north to Goodwood Road, Goodwood Road to Elliot River.
Residents within this zone are being urged to "leave the area now" and to follow the advice of emergency services on the ground.
Woodgate Road between Heidkes Road and Frizzells Road is currently closed in both directions.
"I wasn't aware of all of that but I would say we are very thankful to those people who go out there, those skilled pilots who go out there and help us control fires when needs be," he said.
"Our thoughts are with all concerned and we are looking forward to it working out the right way."
Earlier, emergency crews told residents to "leave now" following fears the fire could have a "significant impact on the community".
The fast-moving fire is travelling from Grapetree Road towards Deeth Road, Sewell Road, Parker Road, Bush Road and Misty Mountain Road. It is currently impacting Parker Road and Sewell Road.
People leaving the area should make their way towards the New England Highway.
"Ground crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property," the QFES said in a post.
"You should not expect a firefighter at your door. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.
"People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality."
The fire is currently at Watch and Act level.
Massive scale of NSW mid-coast fire
5pm:
A video has highlighted the massive scale of one of the many major blazes firefighters have been battling to contain on New South Wales' Mid Coast.
The footage, posted to Twitter by the RFS, shows the huge amount of land the Rumba Dump fire has covered.
The huge blaze is still burning out of control in the areas of Killabakh, Bulgong, Upper Lansdown, Elands, Bobin and Marlee.
It has already burnt through more than 28,700 hectares.
Though fire conditions have eased from yesterday, residents are still being warned to monitor conditions.
This video of the southern edge of the Rumba Dump fire gives you a sense of the scale of the fires our crews have been dealing with. Although conditions have eased today, the fire is at Watch and Act level. Residents in the area should monitor conditions. #nswrfs#nswfirespic.twitter.com/LQcAhhB6sW
Sydneysiders spent much of yesterday snapping eerie pictures of the skies blanketed in the thick haze spewed up into the atmosphere by the various bushfires that have raged throughout the state.
Along with the pungent stench of the fires, it was one of the most obvious signs of the blazes.
Haze from the fires blankets the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
But that thick haze, which smothered much of coastal New South Wales, may have been one of the reasons the bushfires couldn't take hold and Tuesday's day of dread didn't become an actual catastrophe.
The fast-moving fire is travelling from Grapetree Road towards Deeth Road, Sewell Road, Parker Road, Bush Road and Misty Mountain Road.
It is currently impacting Parker Road and Sewell Road.
The QFES has warned fire could have on the significant impact on the community.
A waterbombing plane flies low over the fires near Pechey. Photo / news.com.au
Resident spots 'suspicious fire'
3.50pm:
Noosa North Shore resident Helen Warburton, took these pictures of the emergency level fire as seen from the beach this morning.
Helen Warburton was at Noosa North Shore leading horse riding tours when she spotted a suspicious fire this morning. She was forced to take shelter on the beach with her animals until police could escort her out @7NewsBrisbanepic.twitter.com/7WNHcj1mU5