NSW: Be on alert to prevent bushfires: Rural Fire Service
24 Jan 2009 1:18 AM
SYDNEY, Jan 24 AAP - Searing heat and the threat of more bushfires has prompted an appeal from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to take care over the Australia Day long weekend.
A fire that has torched more than 1,000 hectares of the Budawang National Park, near Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, continues to burn and there's more hot weather on the way.
Temperatures are forecast to climb to 35 in Sydney's CBD and reach 40 in the city's west on Saturday.
Around the state, the mercury will range between the low-to-mid 30s.
Crews from the RFS worked all night on Friday and early Saturday morning to strengthen containment lines.
A southerly change is expected on Saturday afternoon with wind gusts of up to 60km/h.
"The conditions are going to be challenging but they have been for the last couple of days," an RFS spokesman told AAP.
"It will make conditions quite difficult on the ground but we're still working to put in containment lines around the fire."
The change will also bring cooler temperatures and a chance of rain.
The RFS has urged anyone planning to enjoy the outdoors during the long weekend to take care with barbecues, camping stoves and any any flammable materials.
"Across Sydney and across the state it is going to be quite hot so our message is take all precautions," the RFS spokesman said.
"Once you leave make sure that any fires that have been lit are out completely."
