Total fire ban in force for eight NSW regions
A total fire ban has been declared for the Far North Coast, North Coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, New England, Northern Slopes, and North Western regions.
The ban is in force today, Sunday September 24, due to forecast hot and windy conditions.
It covers the following councils:
- Far North Coast (Severe) — Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed
- North Coast (Severe) — Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Mid-Coast, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca
- Greater Hunter (Severe) — Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter
- Greater Sydney Region (Severe) — including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast
- Illawarra/Shoalhaven (Very High) — Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong
- New England (Severe) — Armidale Regional, Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield, Uralla, Walcha
- Northern Slopes (Severe) — Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Tamworth
- North Western (Severe) — Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett, Warrumbungle
The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) provides the following advice:
Under severe and very high fire conditions:
- Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety during a fire
- Follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan and remain vigilant
- Keep informed by listening to local radio, watching television news broadcasts and monitoring www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.
The NSW RFS may issue a harvest safety alert for areas of heightened risk. Harvest operators should monitor conditions and regularly check that they are operating within guidelines.