Total fire ban declared for much of NSW

A total fire ban has been declared for much of NSW as the state prepares itself for
temperatures of up to 40C on Monday.


Temperatures of 39C have been forecast for western Sydney, while Broken Hill in the
state's far west will endure a blistering 41C day.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said much of the state would be subject to a severe
fire danger warning, while the lower Central West Plains have been issued with an
extreme fire warning.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said people living in fire-prone areas should be
preparing their properties.
"We are expecting temperatures to reach well into the 40s in many parts of the
state, and that will see the fire danger rise," he said in a statement.
"Under these conditions, there is the potential for fires to develop and spread
quickly, putting life and property at risk, so everyone needs to be prepared."
The ban has been declared the same day that NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve
Whan unveiled the first of the state's new bushfire warning signs at Bangor in
southern Sydney.
The 470 signs, which include a new national danger rating levels of "severe",
"extreme" and "catastrophic", will be set up across NSW over the next few weeks.
"They clearly and simply alert people living in or travelling through bushfire-prone
areas to the level of danger," Mr Whan told reporters.
"If people know the level of danger they are potentially facing, they can take
appropriate action to `Prepare. Act. Survive' including deciding whether they will
stay to defend their property or leave early.
"On a day of forecast catastrophic fire danger the best course of action is to leave
the night before or early on the morning of that day."
Monday's total fire ban applies to the greater Sydney and Hunter areas, the
Illawarra, the Central and Southern Ranges, Monaro, northwestern NSW, the upper and
lower Central West Plains, the eastern, southern and northern Riverina, and the
state's far west and southwest.