UPDATED 1:30PM: THE NSW Rural Fire Services has issued a cease harvest request for farmers and contractors in the Bland, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), Mid Murray, Riverina and southern border areas.
The NSW RFS says the very warm weather, combined with wind speeds reaching or exceeding 30 kilometres an hour have lead to this decision.
The areas included are:
Bland: Temora.
MIA: Carrathool, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Murrumbidgee, Narrandra
Mid Murray: Jerilderie, Conargo, Deniliquin, Murray and Wakool.
Riverina: Junee, Wagga Wagga, Coolamon, Lockhart, Urana
Southern Border: Greater Hume, Albury, Corowa and Berrigan.
The organisation is urging farmers to use the voluntary Grain Harvesting Guide.
EARLIER:
A total fire ban has been declared for the Far South Coast, Lower Central West Plains, Southern Slopes, Eastern Riverina, Southern Riverina, Northern Riverina and Illawarra/Shoalhaven.
The total fire ban, which started at midnight, covers the following councils:
- Illawarra/Shoalhaven (Very High) – Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong
- Far South Coast (Very High) – Bega Valley and Eurobodalla
- Lower Central West Plains (Severe) – Bland, Dubbo, Forbes, Lachlan, Narromine, Parkes, Temora, Weddin and Wellington
- Southern Slopes (Very High) – Boorowa, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Harden, Tumbarumba, Tumut and Young
- Eastern Riverina (Severe) – Albury, Coolamon, Greater Hume, Junee, Lockhart and Wagga Wagga
- Southern Riverina (Severe) – Berrigan, Conargo, Corowa, Deniliquin, Jerilderie, Murray, Urana and Wakool
- Northern Riverina (Severe) – Carrathool, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Murrumbidgee and Narrandera
The NSW Rural Fire Service may request that harvesting operations and other machinery use stop in grassland, paddocks and on roadsides.
No fires may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended during a total fire ban.
Gas and electric barbeques may be used provided certain conditions are met.
Total fire ban rules and a map of current total fire ban areas are at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au