A TOTAL Fire Ban has been declared for the Greater Hunter on Sunday, due to forecast hot and windy conditions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The "severe" rating was issued late on Saturday afternoon.
Starting from midnight, the ruling covers a number of councils on December 1 - the first day of summer - including: Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) provides the following advice:
Under severe fire conditions:
* Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety during a fire
* Follow your Bush Fire Survival Plan and remain vigilant
* Keep informed by listening to local radio, watching television news broadcasts and monitoring www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
No fires may be lit in the open and all permits are suspended during a Total Fire Ban.
Gas and electric barbeques may be used provided certain conditions are met.
The NSW RFS may also issue a Harvest Safety Alert for areas of heightened risk.
Operators should monitor conditions and regularly check that they are within guidelines.
Total Fire Ban rules and a map of current areas are listed at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
