Sydney sky turns toxic after fires
Sydney was blanketed in a smoky haze yesterday morning, after weekend hazard-reduction burns left parts of the city with air quality so poor it was more than twice the hazardous level, and more than five times as bad as the air quality in Beijing.
Smoke from weekend hazard reductions, including a large state forest burn at Colo Heights on the weekend, was still covering Sydney yesterday, and NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd said it was not expected to clear until today.
‘‘Over the last 24 hours there haven’t been any new ignitions, but some of those have continued to burn,’’ he said.
‘‘What we’ve seen across Sydney is relatively light winds, so a lot of this smoke has basically hung around in the basin, and moved around.
‘‘Yesterday we saw it more in the west and the south-west, then overnight it started to drain back towards the coast.’’ Shepherd said the southerly change, forecast to bring showers last night , should help clear up the smoke.
The worst affected region was Sydney’s north-west, with the highest air quality index level reaching 476 between 8am and 9am – more than double the hazardous level of 200.
Sydney’s south-west was also badly affected by smoke, with an air quality index of 322. In Sydney’s east, the air quality was almost at hazardous levels at 186.
In comparison, the air quality index for Beijing as of 7am was 81.
Shepherd said the RFS was working closely with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Bureau of Meteorology to keep the effect of hazard-reduction burning on air quality to a minimum.
‘‘We’re trying to actually mitigate that as much as possible by changing burning patterns, changing lighting up times,’’ he said.
‘‘We are doing everything we possibly can to try and mitigate [the smoke], but we also need to be aware that we need to get this work done as well.’’ Smoke prompts health warning NSW Health is warning people with respiratory conditions including asthma to limit their time outdoors due to the poor air quality.
Director of Environmental Health, Dr Ben Scalley, said people should also avoid vigorous exercise and if possible stay in air-conditioned buildings.
‘‘Healthy adults may also feel the effects of fine particles that can irritate the lungs, so it’s wise to reschedule or cut back on prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when smoke levels are high,’’ he said.
Scalley said fine smoke particles can go deep into lungs, and can create a number of health problems.
‘‘Smoke may aggravate existing heart and lung conditions and cause irritated eyes, as well as aggravate existing lung conditions, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma,’’ he said.
He said people with existing asthma or a lung condition who develop symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing ‘‘need to be vigilant with their treatment programs’’.
‘‘Symptoms can occur for several days after smoke is inhaled,’’ Scalley said.
‘‘If symptoms do not settle, seek medical advice. If you are on home oxygen treatment, continue as prescribed and if breathlessness worsens, contact your doctor.’’ Hazard reduction burns important ahead of fire season: RFS While it has created plenty of smoke, Mr Shepherd said it was important for the RFS to get the hazard reduction burning done while they could. – Fairfax