Sydney Faces First Total Fire Ban in Three Years

Australia's Sydney on Tuesday faced its first total fire ban in almost three years since November 2020, with the day-time maximum temperature expected to hit 34 degrees Celsius.

New South Wales Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS) declared on Tuesday morning that a total fire ban is in place for the Greater Sydney Region and Far South Coast area, while high fire danger ratings are also forecast for several other areas during the day.

"High temperatures and strong winds are the perfect conditions for a bushfire. On those days, the RFS can declare a total fire ban which means no fires out in the open, including wood or charcoal barbecues," said the fire authority, urging residents to stay ready to act.

NSW RFS also noted that as of 9:00 a.m. local time, there are 61 fires burning around the state, with 13 not yet contained, and over 500 personnel are working to battle these flames.

On the state's Far South Coast, the NSW Department of Education decided to temporarily shut down 20 public schools on Tuesday after consulting with fire authorities.

According to the forecast by NSW RFS, the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter regions would see "extreme" fire danger on Wednesday, while the rating for the Far South Coast would drop from "extreme" to "high."