Firefighters took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to strengthen containment lines as more than 100 fires burned across the state, but persistent hot and dry conditions in northern NSW created new fires and escalated others
"All other fires have remained active, but there is no immediate threat to property," Rural Fire Service spokesperson Greg Allan said. "Residents should monitor conditions. Even at high [fire danger levels], residents could be in danger."
There were 109 fires burning at about 5pm Wednesday, an increase from 81 on Tuesday evening. Sixty-four of those are yet to be contained and more than 2500 personnel are fighting the fires."There were a number of fires that no doubt may have been started [today] by lightning from storms in the north east of the state," Mr Allan said.A total fire ban is in place for the New England, Northern Slopes, and North Western regions on Thursday.
The RFS has assessed 50 to 70 per cent of firegrounds in the Shoalhaven and Central Coast areas as well as most of the Southern Highlands, Hunter and Northern Rivers regions. Fires have burnt through 2.7 million hectares in NSW, which is more than the last three seasons combined, Mr Allan said.moved further inland overnight, reaching the Riverina as well as parts of the central and north west.
While visibility in the city improved on Wednesday, air quality in the morning was still deemed "hazardous" in Sydney's east, south west and north west.
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