NSW’s Catastrophic Fire Danger Has Extended To More Areas

The NSW Fire Service has upgraded tomorrow’s dangerous fire conditions (Tuesday November 12) to include more areas. Here’s what you need to know.

[referenced url=”https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/11/australias-terrifying-bushfires-remind-us-climate-change-is-here/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/at23thacizmxzhw6bnol.jpg” title=”Australia’s Terrifying Bushfires Remind Us Climate Change Is Here” excerpt=”Bushfires are raging through southeastern Australia and have possibly killed hundreds of koalas at one nature reserve. This comes as firefighters finally contain California’s Kincade Fire in Wine Country and as Friday marks the first anniversary of the deadly Camp Fire in California. Climate change is affecting all parts of the globe, and it appears to be the culprit for Australia’s early fire season this year.”]

While a catastrohpic fire danger was originally forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter regions, this has now been extended to include the Illawarra Shoalhaven area.

According to the NSW RFS this extension is due to worsening weather conditions.

The fire danger tomorrow is now expected to be worse than originally forecast. The Illawarra/Shoalhaven is now forecast to experience a Catastrophic fire danger, as will Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter. More info here: https://t.co/RQyA5UAi8x #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/1xlwByvpMz

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 11, 2019

“The fire danger is now expected to be worse than originally forecast. The Illawarra Shoalhaven has now been added as an area of catastrophic fire danger. Catastrophic is the highest level of bush fire danger. Homes are not designed to withstand a fire under these conditions. If a fire starts and takes hold during catastrophic fire danger conditions, lives and homes will be at risk,” says the NSW RFS website.

A statewide fire ban is now being enforced and earlier today state premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a state of emergency for NSW, which will stay in place for next seven days.

The NSW RFS has recommended the following to anyone within the catastrophic fire danger areas:

• Avoid bush fire prone areas. A safer area may be a large town or city, shopping centres or facilities well away from bushland areas.
• Schools in identified high risk areas will be closed. Schools will notify affected students. Start making arrangements now.
• If you are unable to leave, identify a safe location which may be nearby. This may include a Neighbourhood Safer Place.

It also has a bush fire survival plan which you can watch here:

You can also check whether your home lies within the catastrophic danger zone on the NSW RFS website.

Be sure to keep alert throughout the day, consider downloading the Fire Nears Me NSW app and keep all of you beloved furry family members inside, too.