Total fire ban to begin as NSW heats up

SYDNEY (AAP) - 18 Sept - A total fire ban will be enforced in parts of NSW as temperatures have soared above 30 degrees Celsius.
Sydneysiders had their warmest September day for three years on Sunday, with temperatures hitting 32.4C at Penrith, in the city's west, and 30.6C in the city centre.
"We tend to get a day in excess of 30 degrees in the city every second year," a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told AAP.
As the mercury rose, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) announced the first total fire ban for the season, to come into effect on Monday in the far west of the state.
"Forecast high temperatures and strong winds mean that the risk of grass fires starting and taking hold is significantly increased," RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said in a statement.
"(Monday's) total fire ban is an insight to the conditions we can expect this season."
Mr Fitzsimmons has urged residents in Broken Hill, Bourke, Brewarrina and Cobar to prepare for the risk of fire - he said he was hoping the wet winter hadn't led to complacency.
"There is a very real potential for fire and everyone ... should remain alert," he said.
Sydney's beaches were packed on Sunday as thousands flocked mainly to Bondi and Manly for some respite.
In the north and west of NSW, temperatures were even hotter, with a reading of 33.1C at Kempsey Airport and 33.6 at Bourke.
It was even relatively warm around the Snowy Mountains, reaching 21C at Cooma Airport.
Temperatures are forecast to drop slightly in the coming week around Sydney but still stay above 20c, with Tuesday and Friday expected to be the warmest days.
The temperature average for September is 20C in Sydney.