Total fire bans are in place for six regions around Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales, with one regional command telling residents to talk to family about what to do when a bushfire hits.
Total fire bans are in place for six fire regions around NSW as firefighters battle nearly 150 blazes statewide amid worsening conditions.
On Sunday about a third of the 146 bush and grass fires were not contained.
“With Severe fire danger in the Greater Hunter and widespread Very High elsewhere, know what you and your family will do if threatened by fire. Report any unattended fires to 000,” the Rural Fire Service posted on Twitter.
A total fire ban is in place for Sunday for the greater Hunter, which is facing “severe” fire danger.
The greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes, and northwestern regions are also under a total fire ban.
These regions along with the far South Coast, Southern Ranges and New England, as well as the ACT are under “very high” fire danger.
A “watch and act” alert was issued on Saturday for the 20,770-hectare North Black Range fire burning in the Tallaganda National Park area, but was later downgraded to “advice.”
The RFS has warned of worsening conditions over the coming week, with one regional command telling residents that now is the time to talk to family about what to do when a bushfire hits.
“Know what you will do before the fire threatens rather than trying to wing it at the time,” the RFS’s Northern Tablelands Team posted to Facebook.
Meanwhile, a portable radio repeater providing critical communications for fire crews in northern NSW has been so severely vandalised, it’s out of action.
Six tyres, two axles, two jerry cans and radio equipment were stolen from the marked trailer near Nymboida.
“This will potentially endanger fire crews working to protect life and property,” Northern Tablelands Team posted online on Saturday.
Grafton police are investigating.
By Heather McNab
