"We really need people to stay alert, stay informed, and stay safe and act in accordance with your plan and the advice that might be given out throughout the day," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters. Officials have rated the harbour city at "catastrophic fire danger" for Tuesday, the first time it has received that designation since new fire danger ratings were introduced in 2009. "We are not going to control fires under catastrophic conditions," he said. Around 600 schools and colleges were closed as a precaution and authorities advised anyone suffering respiratory conditions to stay indoors. In Queensland state, the danger was not quite as great, with the threat level pegged at "severe", two levels below the "catastrophic" conditions in NSW.

Source: bd News24 November 12, 2019 02:14 UTC