Residents are on high alert as fires continue to threaten parts of Sydney, the Illawarra, and the southwest of NSW.
While winds have eased on Friday afternoon, they are expected to pick up again into the weekend, with fire dangers expected to peak on Monday.
NSW Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd told 7NEWS that Monday could bring “the same conditions that we saw on Wednesday” when a grass fire burned out of control dangerously close to homes in Sydney’s southwest.
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Between midday and midnight on Friday, Fire & Rescue NSW said it received almost 1000 Triple-0 calls for help from the public in the affected areas — and NSW RFS and FRNSW tackled 90 fires across the state.
Crews attended raging bush and grass fires, and wires down from Northern Beaches to Wollongong.
“Once again, today, we have seen those high temperatures, coupled with some very strong winds,” Shepherd said.
NSW RFS crews are currently at the scene of a blaze ripping through vegetation near The Lake Circuit at Culburra Beach, 17km southeast of Nowra, burning in an easterly direction.
And while conditions ease off, offering a moment’s reprieve for fire crews, they are expected to pick up on Saturday.
“Those winds have just backed off in some areas this afternoon, but we are expecting to see that high fire danger stretch throughout the weekend and possibly peak again on Monday,” Shepherd said.
“There is still some warmer, windy weather on the way, and we are monitoring that very closely.”
Fire hazard reduction burns that were scheduled for the weekend have now been postponed until after Monday.
“After Monday, it does look like conditions are really going to back off. We’re still going to see warm temperatures, and that is really going to allow us to do some important burns.”
Unexpectedly warm spring weather has meant many hazard reduction burns have not yet occurred, but Shepherd said hazard reduction is also a “shared responsibility”.
He urged NSW residents to use the weekend to clean their gutters, trim overhanging branches from nearby trees, mow lawns and ensure homes are equipped with hoses, ahead of what is expected to be a hot summer.
“It’s up to all of us to prepare for the upcoming season,” Shepherd said.
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