A Total Fire Ban is in force in the Greater Sydney Region and its neighbouring regions today, Thursday, 12 October 2023.
The NSW Rural Fire Service declared the TOBAN yesterday due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions conducive to bushfires.
“During a Total Fire Ban, you cannot light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or to carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire,” as per the RFS’ guidelines.
“General purpose hot works (such as welding, grinding or gas cutting or any activity that produces a spark or flame) are not to be done in the open.”
The Fire Danger Rating for Thursday is EXTREME. This means conditions may turn hazardous. Therefore, individuals are advised to secure their property and take urgent action should a bushfire occur near their properties.
Travel must also be reconsidered when travelling to high-risk areas.
Five other regions have a Total Fire Ban in place on 12 October: North Western, Northern Slopes, Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains, and Greater Hunter.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest report, the temperature in Sydney today is forecast to reach a maximum of 32 °C, with a chance of a thunderstorm as winds may strengthen later in the day.
“Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h over then morning then increasing to 20 to 30 km/h in the afternoon before shifting cool and gusty west to southwesterly 30 to 40 km/h in the evening,” the Sydney forecast indicated.
