NSW: Firefighters on high alert as extreme weather approaches

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2005
NSW: Firefighters on high alert as extreme weather approaches

NSW firefighters have been placed on high alert .. as dire weather conditions predicted
for the weekend close in.

The NSW Rural Fire Service spokeswoman .. REBEL TALBERT .. says firefighters are battling
a bush fire in the Clarence Valley near Grafton in the state's north .. and another at
Wollondilly in the Southern Highlands.

Weather conditions are expected to get worse over the next 72 hours .. with temperatures
set to skyrocket .. and humidity to drop to as low as 15 per cent.

Winds gusts of up to 40 kilometres per hour are expected across much of the state.

A total statewide fire ban will come into force at midnight (AEDT) tonight .. and will
remain in force until midnight January 1.

Sunday is expected to be particularly bad .. with temperatures in the low forties.





Ms TALBERT says another 23 bushfires in NSW have been contained by fire crews.

AAP RTV ag/nf/rj/tm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW (SYDNEY)

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