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As extreme fire and heatwave conditions are forecast across many parts of NSW, VIC and other states today, doctors, firefighters, and others have provided the following statements:

Darin Sullivan, NSW Firefighter, says: “Communities, councils and emergency services are doing the best they can to cope with these terrifying conditions, but the federal government and state government are not doing enough to help firefighters on the ground right now, or prevent these unprecedented fires from getting worse in the future. We need better resourcing and support for us firefighters, and we need urgent action to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Less than this just isn’t good enough.”

Vivien Thomson, farmer and firefighter, NSW, says: “People should not be travelling or heading to the South Coast, Shoalhaven Region and Snow Valley area today, it is not safe. If you are here, make sure your fire plan is in place and always act on it sooner rather than later. The best way for concerned members of the public to help right now is donating funds to firefighting or disaster relief organisations; donating physical items takes up valuable community space and staff resources. People can also help by stepping up calls on the Federal Government to take urgently and significantly reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and phase out fossil fuels.”

Peter Holding, mixed crop and sheep farmer and volunteer firefighter at Harden in NSW, says: “Our communities are copping it from all sides, with fires at our doorstep, smoke hanging over our towns, extreme heat, and the ongoing drought. All these conditions are exacerbated by climate change,  but I have yet to see any real leadership from the government on responding to the immediate needs of communities, or in ensuring that things don’t get much worse in the future.”

Dr Arnagretta Hunter, Cardiologist, Canberra, says: “Smoke pollution, as we have unfortunately seen, can be fatally dangerous. As climate change worsens bushfire conditions and puts more Australians in harm’s way, this puts huge pressure on health service providers who must cope with more patient admissions, more cardiovascular emergencies, and even greater indoor pollution and equipment failures in hospitals due to smoke. This is a national health and climate emergency which needs urgent attention from the Federal Government.”