NSW Fires: Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Sutherland Shire and St George schools to close over fire risk

The Rural Fire Service has elevated the Illawarra and Shoalhaven’s fire danger forecast for Tuesday to Catastrophic, with some schools in the region preparing to close for the day.

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The NSW Rural Fire Service has upgraded the Illawarra and Shoalhaven’s fire danger forecast to Catastrophic, ahead of what could be “could be the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen”.

Firefighters have spent the morning moving their resources into place, as the first-ever Catastrophic fire danger warning has been issued for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, greater Sydney and greater Hunter areas on Tuesday.

Temperatures of up to 36C are forecast in Wollongong on Tuesday, as well as strong winds and very low humidity.

Earlier this morning, NSW was declared a state of emergency for the next seven days, as horrific bushfires rage across the state.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott on Monday morning urged residents to be safe and take all precautions, as what “could be the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen” begins.

The NSW fires have claimed three lives and so far destroyed more than 150 homes.

Catastrophic is the highest level of bushfire danger and homes are not designed to withstand a fire under these conditions. A total fire ban has also been declared across the state for all of Monday and Tuesday.

Dangerous #fire weather conditions continuing for large parts of Aus today, with eastern #NSW & #SEQ becoming the focus again from Tuesday.

Learn more about fire weather in our video. For latest weather warnings see https://t.co/KipaPVCPve; follow advice from emergency services pic.twitter.com/6vkBkmNo19

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) 11 November 2019

Since the Illawarra and Shoalhaven’s fire rating was upgraded, the Catholic Education Office has announced four schools across the region will be closed, including Holy Cross at Helensburgh, St Michael’s at Nowra, St John’s Nowra and St Mary’s at Milton.

There are more than 80 fires burning around the state, with about half of those uncontained. Picture: AAP/ Dan Peled.

A spokesman for the Department of Education also confirmed Dapto High, Mount Kembla Public School, Mount Keira Demonstration School, Otford Public School, Pleasant Heights Public School, Scarborough Public School, Stanwell Park Public School, Sussex Inlet Public School, Vincentia High School, Vincentia Public School and Mount Brown Public School would also be closed tomorrow.

Several Sutherland Shire and St George schools are also officially closed tomorrow in the wake of horrifying catastrophic fire conditions which could endanger schools in bushland environments.

Alfords Point Public School, Bates Drive School in Jannali, Bonnet Bay Public School, Bundeena Public School, Cook School in Loftus, Engadine West Public School, Grays Point Public School, Heathcote East Public School, Jannali Public School, Loftus Public School, Lucas Heights Community School, Marton Public School in Engadine, Menai Public School, Oatley West Public School, Waterfall Public School, Woronora River Public School and Yarrawarrah Public School are all shut tomorrow.

You can keep up to date on all school non-operational here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety

The RFS has issued strong advice for people in areas of Catastrophic fire danger including:

Avoid bush fire prone areas. A safer area may be a large town or city, shopping centres or facilities well away from bushland areas.

Schools in identified high risk areas will be closed. Schools will notify affected students. Start making arrangements now.

If you are unable to leave, identify a safe location which may be nearby. This may include a Neighbourhood Safer Place.