We know the weather forecast for tomorrow is at catastrophic levels
and based on that, plus the conditions we've experienced in the last few days,
I've accepted the advice of Commissioner Fitzsimmons
and declared a state of emergency across New South Wales.
– We've got to keep reminding ourselves
that catastrophic is off the conventional scale.
We are talking about indices that go well beyond
the old scale of 100.
Homes that are specifically designed and built
to withstand bushfires are not done so for catastrophic conditions.
Catastrophic conditions are where lives are lost, it's where people die.
The risk is absolutely real.
– This is one o'clock in the morning out at Bobin.
Gotta two-storey house fully involved.
Poor buggers, lost everything.
We are literally ringed by fire.
Everywhere you look, there's just fire.
Fire, fire bloody everywhere, fire.
– We've also identified and brought on our third
large air tanker over the weekend.
It's now up and operational and available for deployment.
So we'll have three here in New South Wales at the moment.
– I also want to assure the community
that Commissioner Fitzsimmons and all of our agencies
have authority to undertake and utilise any resource they need.
I've said to them as the premier: "You do what you need to do
and we'll sort out the details later."
Tomorrow is about protecting life.
– This fire has been so intense.
Never seen anything like it.
– Under catastrophic conditions, the safest thing you can do
is not be in an at-risk area.
[Under] catastrophic conditions, the focus is principally
and foremost on life safety.
Life is at risk when it comes to catastrophic conditions.
– If you're told to evacuate, please do so.
If you're told to take certain actions, please do so.
And, for heaven's sake, stay away from bushland tomorrow.