Total Fire Ban declared

13 February 2014 

A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Central Ranges, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, New England, North Western, Northern Slopes, Southern Ranges and Southern Slopes regions tomorrow, Wednesday 14 February 2018, due to forecast hot and windy conditions.

The Total Fire Ban, commencing at midnight tonight, covers the following council areas:

Central Ranges (Severe) – Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Oberon, Orange
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 (Severe) – Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong
New England (Very High) – Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes Severn, Guyra, Tenterfield, Uralla, Walcha
North Western (Severe) – Moree Plains, Narrabri, Walgett, Warrumbungle
Northern Slopes (Severe) – Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Tamworth
Southern Ranges (Severe) – Goulburn Mulwaree, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley
Southern Slopes (Very High) – Boorowa, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Harden, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Young

 

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.

 

Please note: 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.

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 listed at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.