Updated
Around 6 million residents across eastern New South
Wales are bracing for catastrophic bushfire conditions today, with
strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures expected.
Key points:
- "Catastrophic" is the highest level of fire danger authorities can declare
- The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast temperatures in the high 30s across the danger areas
- About 600 schools and TAFE campuses have been closed in anticipation of the extreme conditions
Catastrophic fire danger warnings are in place across Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, and the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region and around 600 schools and TAFE campuses are closed.
It is the first time the Greater Sydney area has experienced such a threat since the catastrophic rating was introduced in 2009.
Across the danger areas, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast temperatures in the high 30s, with gusting winds up to 65 kilometres per hour in some parts.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) warned people in catastrophic danger areas to leave if their homes were not extremely well prepared.
For more emergency information listen to:
- ABC Mid North Coast Port Macquarie Taree (Taree MF) 756 AM or via live stream
- ABC Mid North Coast Port Macquarie Kempsey (Smithton MF) 684AM or via live stream
- ABC New England North West Glen Innes (Glen Innes MF) 819 AM or via live stream
- ABC North Coast Grafton (Lawrence MF) 738 AM or via live stream
And many people are heeding their warning.
At the first sign of fire, Valley Heights resident Carolyn Clark has planned to leave with her 94-year-old bed-bound mother — but she is unsure where they will go.
"It would be really difficult getting her into the car but then the main difficulty would be finding somewhere to take her to accommodate her needs," the Blue Mountains resident said.
"My first priority would be to put her in the car, after that I don't know whether I would go — somewhere like Nepean Hospital."
Ms Clarke's mother Gwen cannot walk and requires high-level care and "going to somewhere like an evacuation centre wouldn't work for us," she said.
"Fire situations can turn very quickly and you need to be prepared."
Britta Sheil, from the southern Sydney suburb of Bundeena, which borders the Royal National Park, is not taking any chances either. She has packed up her pets and sent them to her mother's house.
"We can defend [the house] as much as possible but we're not staying to defend it if our lives depend on it — absolutely not," she said.
'There's no step we haven't taken'
Early on Monday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a state of emergency for NSW, allowing the RFS special powers to evacuate property and shut down electricity.RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said the state was as prepared as it could be, with military aircraft on standby to rescue people from fires if needed.
Police would also conduct aerial patrols to quickly identify new fires, he said.
"There's no step we haven't taken," he said.
Mr Rogers said Sydney could see conditions similar to the 1994 fires, which left part of the North Shore including Lane Cove and Wahroonga burning.
"At the end of the day the conditions will be there for one of those fires," he said.
Mr Rogers said authorities expected problems in the northern part of the state where fires were already burning.
But he hoped any new fires that broke out in the areas of catastrophic danger would be quickly contained.
"That will be the measure of success for us," he said.
The intricate planning follows devastating fires that swept across northern NSW on Friday when, at its peak, 17 emergency bushfires were burning.
Three people were killed during the fast-moving blazes, which also destroyed more than 150 properties.
'I can't replace me or my dog'
Katie Toohey, whose Hazelbrook home came under threat on Friday, said she did not have the resources to protect her house.She will be sending her dog to a friend's house before waiting at the ready with her RFS brigade, should the worst happen.
"I knew that myself and my garden hose weren't ever going to be good enough," she said.Ms Toohey will take her passport, driver's licence and other important documents and clothes and photographs if she has time.
"I can't replace me, I can't replace my dog. I'm insured," she said.
"The important things are my friends, family and the memories that you carry with you."
More on the bushfire emergency:
- Catastrophic bushfire warnings in place for Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Illawarra and Shoalhaven
- Torrington residents emerged from shed after blaze to find their world changed, but worse may be ahead
- OPINION: The causes of unprecedented bushfires are complex but climate change is part of the puzzle
- Koalas injured in NSW bushfires treated in couple's lounge room
- NSW bushfires destroyed Angelo and Chantal Fornasier's Rainbow Flat home in minutes
- Queensland fire claims 'forever' home of young Sunshine Coast family
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