Highest fire alert on record for NSW

State braces for lethal combination of heat and high winds

SYDNEY is on the highest fire alert ever issued with warnings of loss of life, massive property losses and unstoppable firestorms predicted for tomorrow as the entire state braces for the worse.

Authorities are telling people to head to town centres and other safe places today and not wait until the last moment.

A “catastrophic” fire danger warning has been forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter areas which is the first time the category has been declared since it was introduced in 2009.

“Catastrophic is the highest level of bush fire danger. Homes are not designed to withstand a fire under these conditions.

If a fire starts and takes hold during catastrophic fire danger conditions, lives and homes will be at risk,’’ the Rural Fire Service said yesterday.

The NSW government will also today meet with Rural Fire Service bosses to see if they need more help from the Australian Defence Force.

""If you have any apprehension about your safety leave today and not tomorrow, '' said emergency Service Minister David Elliot.

High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity have experts declaring it one of the most dangerous days on record.

“We’re talking about schools being destroyed, we’re talking about community halls, bridges, power poles,” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

“We are particularly concerned about weather forecast right across NSW for Tuesday, the indications are the conditions will be worse than what we experienced in northern NSW ( this week).

“Not only will they be worse they will be concentrated a lot further in NSW.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who visited parts of fire affected regions, also said he had grave concerns for NSW ahead of the predicted conditions.

The lethal combination of 35 degree heat, drought, 10 per cent humidity and gusting winds could trigger “tinderbox-like” conditions across nearly all of the state including the North coast, and New England, Hunter Valley and Illawarra.

Three people have died and more than 150 homes have already been lost but fire authorities fear the predicted conditions could see even more damage.

There are now 1300 volunteers battling more than 70 fires, many still not to be contained.