Authorities are bracing for catastrophic fire conditions to start peaking from noon on Sunday in the Hunter region and other parts of NSW suffering through one of the worst heatwaves on record.
NSW Rural Fire Service spokesman Paul Best says strike teams have been deployed throughout the worst-affected areas, which include the state's Central Ranges, North Western and Greater Hunter regions.
They would act as rapid response units, hopefully quelling any blazes before they took hold.
"For the Greater Hunter, the catastrophic conditions are predicted to start around midday, but it will be escalating rapidly from 10am," Mr Best said.
"The whole area falls under the catastrophic fire danger, so we've got very dangerous fire conditions right across the Hunter."
SMS messages have been sent to mobile phone users in regions falling under the catastrophic fire rating, warning them to avoid bushfire-prone areas.
Following a six-year peak in electricity demand across NSW on Saturday, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said electricity supply had stabilised.
A spokeswoman said demand peaked at almost 13,500MW - the highest since January, 2011.
"But it is not a critical situation today," she said.
"In terms of supply and demand, we have about 2800MW in reserve, which we are quite comfortable with."
Along the state's coast, Surf Life Saving NSW has placed volunteers on high alert, with crowds expected on most patrolled beaches.
Spokeswoman Donna Wishart said advice had been sent to all clubs and branches to be on the lookout for beach-goers and volunteers affected by the heat.
"There are also quite a few carnivals on this weekend," she said.
"In the Hunter, for example, they cancelled their nippers carnival yesterday, just because of the extreme heat."
"Organisers have been placed on standby to monitor the conditions, and if it does start to become an issue for competitors and officials, they should look at postponing them or cancelling them altogether."
While the heat is proving a burden for many, for others it is a boon.
Shopping centres, pubs and clubs are enjoying an upswing in business as people without air-conditioning seek cooler climes.
In the central western city of Orange - one of the regional centres within the catastrophic fire danger zone - the mercury climbed above 40C for the first time on Saturday.
Orange Ex-Services Club manager Sam Hinchcliffe said the club had experienced its busiest trade for months.
"No one is handling the heat," he said.
"I felt like turning myself off. We're expecting the same thing today - it's going to be huge. I came to work at 5.45am and it was already 28 degrees then."
Share
