Fire smoke plumes covered Sydney overnight. Smoke from more than 50 fires in northern NSW has reached New Zealand. NSW residents told to heed evacuation warnings 12/11/2019 (Translation appears in Arabic Section) New South Wales residents have been urged to heed warnings if they are told to evacuate their homes this week. Temperatures are tipped to climb into the high 30s and strong, dry winds are expected to put lives and properties at risk. The Australian Defence Force has been called in to assist firefighters working to control bushfires burning in ‘catastrophic’ conditions across the state. Declarations of a ‘catastrophic’ fire danger are in place for Greater Sydney, the Greater Hunter and Illawarra Shoalhaven regions. The NSW Rural Fire Service said conditions were the worst they've seen in more than 40 years. More than 500 schools and TAFES are closed, and emergency services have warned residents their homes are not designed to withstand a fire in these conditions and any blaze that starts and takes hold will threaten lives. Residents are advised to avoid bushland areas, which for many means leaving homes for coastal or larger towns and cities. Latest Figures * Three people dead * 100 people injured including 20 firefighters * At least 150 homes destroyed with the figure expected to rise * 52 burning on Tuesday, 26 uncontained, 13 fires at watch and act level * 600 schools closed across NSW with a week-long state of emergency declared * 3000 firefighters deployed or on standby * Defence ready to help with search and rescue operations |