A Total Fire Ban is in force for Greater Sydney and five other regions in NSW on Saturday, 16 December 2023.
The Ban includes the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Northern Slopes, North Western, Greater Hunter, and Central Ranges regions.
A “TOBAN” is declared due to hot, dry and windy conditions, which are perfect environments for bushfires to occur.
The Fire Danger Rating is Extreme, which means everyone must check their bushfire plan and ensure their properties are fire-ready. The NSW Rural Fire Service mentioned individuals with travel plans, especially through bushfire risk areas, should be reconsidered.
“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. A total fire ban helps limit the potential of fires starting,” the NSW RFS guideline mentioned.
“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,” according to the NSW RFS.
To see the full extent of the Ban and its rules, visit the RFS website here.
According to the Sydney Forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for Thursday, the maximum temperature is 35 °C with a 5% chance of any rain.
“Light winds becoming westerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then shifting south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening,” the forecast indicated.
In addition, the Bureau issued a Heatwave Warning on Friday afternoon, 15 December 2023, valid until Monday, 18 December 2023. The Warning indicated that parts of eastern NSW are forecast to experience Low-Intensity to Extreme Heatwaves.
The Greater Sydney region has a Heatwave Severity of Low-Intensity Heatwaves until Monday.
