FIRES are continuing to threaten pharmacies across Australia with temperatures forecast to soar over the weekend.
On New Year's Eve, a number of pharmacies along the NSW south coast closed their doors early to allow staff to return home as the sky turned black and ash rained down upon towns.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, told Pharmacy Daily, a pharmacy owner in Ulladulla had closed his store at 3pm on Tue to ensure his staff could get away safely, and went out into the street with supplies of Ventolin.
Heffernan added that the owner of the Cobargo Pharmacy, which was under threat on Tue (PD Breaking News) has been unable to assess the damage, with photos showing a number of buildings along the street had been burnt to the ground, while a wall with the word "Chemist" had remained standing.
With temperatures set to hit highs of 40 degrees on Sat, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe fire warnings for much of the state, with extreme warnings for the Illawarra/Shoalhaven and Southern Ranges.
Residents of areas around Sussex Inlet, are being urged to evacuate before Sat, due to the rising fire threat.
Heffernan said St George's Basin Pharmacy is advising locals it will be shut on Sat, noting one of the pharmacists had been unable to get home on New Year's Eve because of the fire threat and had to ring in 2020 at another local pharmacist's home.
Fires in Victoria have seen the state branch of the Guild collaborate with the Victorian Department of Health and Sigma Healthcare to ensure supplies of vital medicines have been able to get to pharmacies in fire-affected areas.
Speaking with Pharmacy Daily, Guild Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, said Ventolin supplies were delivered to Mallacoota Pharmacy, in East Gippsland, on New Year's Eve by boat, while air-ambulance services were able to get medicines to the Orbost Pharmacy, as fires closed off road access to the towns.
Tassone also expressed concerns for the town of Corryong in northern Victoria, where 14 homes have been destroyed as fires spread across the NSW border.
He said the Guild was working with the local pharmacy owner in Corryong to provide support, as the fire threat continues.
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