Firefighters are warning that the fire danger rating for the Mid Coast has been upgraded to extreme.
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A total fire ban has been declared for Wauchope and the Hastings and Mid Coast areas on Friday (September 6) due to forecast hot and windy conditions.
The mercury is expected to reach up to 33 degrees in Wauchope in an ominous sign of things to come this summer.
There are currently nine active fires across the Mid Coast and Port Macquarie - Hastings Local Government Areas (LGAs); one is being controlled, four are under control and five are being patrolled.
The weather is forecast to deteriorate ahead of the weekend with high temperatures and strong winds across the district. The Fire Danger Rating (FDR) for Friday is extreme under these conditions fires will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) provides the following advice:
Under extreme fire conditions:
- Homes that are specially designed and constructed to withstand a bush fire, prepared to the highest level and actively defended may provide safety
- Follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan and know when you will leave, where you will go and how you will get there. Know what you will do if you cannot leave
- Leaving early in the day is your safest option
- Keep informed by listening to local radio, watching television news broadcasts and monitoring www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the Mid Coast region tomorrow, Friday 6 September 2019, due to the forecast hot and windy conditions.
The Total Fire Ban, commencing at midnight tonight, covers the following councils:
- Mid Coast
- Port Macquarie-Hastings
No fires may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended during a Total Fire Ban. Gas and electric barbeques may be used provided certain conditions are met. Total Fire Ban rules and a map of current Total Fire Ban areas are listed at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
31 firefighters and 15 appliances plus six aircraft are currently deployed in tackling the nine active fires across the Hastings and the Mid Coast.
