Barely visible through the smoke, a helicopter circles above the wharf in the town Eden, 4 January 2020. The entire town was ordrered to be evacuated as bushfires closed in. Photo: Brett Mason / SBSNews
Barely visible through the smoke, a helicopter circles above the wharf in the town Eden, 4 January 2020. The entire town was ordrered to be evacuated as bushfires closed in. Photo: Brett Mason / SBSNews

By Christopher Knaus
4 January 2020

(The Guardian) – The situation is deteriorating in Eden on the Far South Coast. A bushfire moved quickly up from the NSW-Victorian border last night, as the southerly change moved up the coast and turned fires northward. The fire, dubbed the “border fire”, burnt last night from the Victorian border to Victorian Border to the southern shores of Twofold Bay. [UPDATE: Eden has been declared safe. –Des]

It has already affected the areas of Wonboyn, Kiah, Narrabarba and surrounds. Properties have been damaged in the area and building impact assessment teams will be deployed to assess the destruction.

The border fire is now threatening the town of Eden. An update posted on the Bega Valley Shire Council’s website a short while ago warned Eden residents, including those in Snug Cove Wharf, to leave now and head to Merimbula or Bega. Authorities were still attempting to define the fire line near Eden.

“Eden residents – if you are not prepared to mentally and physically defend your house, leave now,” the advice read. “If you are in the areas of Burragate and Towamba, it is too late to leave. The RFS is advising that you seek shelter as the fire approaches and protect yourself from the heat of the fire.”Authorities say Merimbula, Pambula and surrounding areas are not currently under threat. The Princess Highway remains closed at Broadwater to southbound traffic.

We’re also getting reports that journalists in Eden to cover the Far South Coast bushfires are being told to evacuate.

Just to update you on the current fire situation across the country, here is what is happening in each state (via AAP):

NSW

  • 18 people dead
  • 150 bushfires burning, 64 uncontained
  • More than 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium
  • 1365 homes confirmed destroyed but number expected to rise significantly
Smoke from bushfires in Australia turns the sky red in Merimbula at 7am, 4 January 2020. Photo: Tegan George / Network 10
Smoke from bushfires in Australia turns the sky red in Merimbula at 7am, 4 January 2020. Photo: Tegan George / Network 10

VICTORIA

  • Two people dead, seven missing
  • About 40 bushfires burning
  • More than 970,000 hectares burned
  • 330 structures confirmed destroyed but significantly more expected

QUEENSLAND

  • About 30 bushfires burning
  • 250,000 hectares burned
  • 45 homes confirmed destroyed

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

  • 30 bushfires burning
  • 1.5 million hectares burned
  • One home confirmed destroyed

TASMANIA

  • 23 bushfires burning, three of significance
  • 30,000 hectares burned
  • Two homes confirmed destroyed

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

  • Three people dead
  • 15 bushfires burning, four of significance
  • More than 200,000 hectares burned
  • 88 homes confirmed destroyed but number expected to rise significantly

Eden evacuations