Below is a press release from the NSW Rural Fire Service regarding catastrophic fire conditions forecast for Tuesday. Others have extreme fire dangers. Please don’t go hiking is these areas. I am planning on leaving my town early as we are surrounded by bush in a high risk area. It has made us all in our community think about our bush fire survival plans and ours says leave. Please assess your own situation and listen to the advice given. Hopefully nothing happens but please be prepared and stay safe.
Dangerous fire conditions forecast for Tuesday 12 November
Published Date: 10 Nov 2019
Summary
Catastrophic fire danger is now forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter areas on Tuesday 12 November 2019, due to worsening weather conditions.
High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity are forecast, making conditions dangerous.
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.
Advice for people in areas of Catastrophic fire danger include:
- 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.
Large areas of the state are also forecast to experience Severe and Extreme fire danger. This includes in the north coast and northern NSW areas, where there is a large number of fires already burning. These fires will not be contained in time and will threaten lives and properties.
Based on latest forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology, the following fire danger ratings are expected on Tuesday. These are subject to change as forecasts are updated:
- Catastrophic – Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter (including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast areas)
- Extreme – North Coast, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes and North Western
- Severe – Far North Coast, New England, Far South Coast, Southern Ranges, Lower Central West Plains
This is the first time since new Fire Danger Ratings were introduced in 2009 that Catastrophic fire danger has been forecast for Sydney.
A statewide total fire ban has been declared for all areas of NSW for all of Monday and Tuesday.
Solo Hiker 
Thinking of you guys over on the east coast. Hope it all works out well for you. Stay safe.
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Thank you. They’ve just closed my kids school so I’ll be spending a lovely day in the city I think .
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Be safe and good luck!
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I have been hearing about the dreadful bushfires round Sydney on the news and have been thinking about you and your family. Take care Nathan and keep safe.
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Thank you. It has skipped our town thankfully. The air quality is very poor as all the smoke is descending into the valleys.
A colleague of mine was evacuated from his house but all is well there now. I spent the day at the museum with my kids for peace of mind. I’m still monitoring the fire apps though as there are new fires starting in places (many deliberately lit of course.. grr) . Long sleepless night ahead I think.
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I am so pleased you are safe. I cannot understand the mentality of someone who would light fires on purpose. I know some people are ill and cannot help themselves but others are just malicious and destructive.
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