HEATWAVE HELL: NSW Braces for Catastrophic Fire Conditions as Temperatures Soar to 40 Degrees Celsius
- More than 45 grass and bushfires burning across NSW, with six yet to be contained
- A cool change is expected on Sunday, but authorities warn of heat-related health risks and new fire ignitions
- Over 600 firefighters deployed, with a total fire ban in place for several regions
- Emergency services urge community to remain vigilant, with a 10 per cent uptick in triple-0 calls expected
New South Wales is bracing for a catastrophic day of bush and grass fires, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. As of midday Saturday, there were 46 fires burning across the state, with about six yet to be contained.
Premier Chris Minns warned of an “incredibly challenging day” for the state’s health system and fire and rescue crews, urging people to remain vigilant and heed warnings from emergency services.
“A lack of water on a 40 degree day could cost you your life, even if you are fit and well,” he said. “Without being too graphic… the best way of telling whether you’ve had enough water is whether your wee is clear or not… this is the best way of ensuring that you be healthy on an incredibly hot day.”
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington said the main concern was new ignitions, with temperatures and winds set to increase in the afternoon. “If a new fire gets hold this afternoon, it will be difficult to control and contain,” he said.
A total fire ban is in place for Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, Monaro Alpine, Southern Ranges and Southern Slopes, with an isolated thunderstorm developing and posing an additional risk of dry lightning.
In a heartbreaking development, a four-year-old boy drowned in a pool on the NSW Mid North Coast on Friday night, prompting Emergency Minister Jihad Dib to urge people to rethink water safety. “If there are children around … please make sure that you’re constantly watching them,” he said.
Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS NSW) has carried out between 10 to 12 serious rescues on Saturday, with 12 beaches closed due to dangerous surf conditions. Phil Ayres, from SLS NSW, warned swimmers to stay out of the water if the flags aren’t up. “If the flags aren’t up, the beach is too dangerous — don’t go in.”
A south-west to southerly change is expected to bring milder temperatures, with heatwave conditions set to ease from the west over the weekend. But for now, NSW remains on high alert, with emergency services urging people to stay safe and stay informed.