What you need to know about the NSW bushfires

Some NSW schools will be shut tomorrow and many National Parks have been closed as the state battles bushfires and prepares for predicted catastrophic weather conditions on Tuesday. FIND OUT THE LATEST INFORMATION

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At 6am there were 64 bush and grass fires burning across NSW, with 40 of those not yet contained.

Many of those 40 fires won’t be contained ahead of tomorrow’s dangerous fire weather.

The first-ever catastrophic fire danger warning has been issued for the greater Sydney and greater Hunter areas on Tuesday.

High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity are forecast, making conditions dangerous.

Catastrophic is the highest level of bush fire danger and homes are not designed to withstand a fire under these conditions.

Find information on latest fires and warnings, school closures and safety advice below.

NSW WARNINGS IN PLACE FOR TUESDAY

Based on latest forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology, the following fire danger ratings are expected on Tuesday.

Catastrophic: Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter (including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast areas)

Extreme: North Coast, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes and North Western

Severe: Far North Coast, New England, Far South Coast, Southern Ranges, Lower Central West Plains

This is the first time since new Fire Danger Ratings were introduced in 2009 that Catastrophic fire danger has been forecast for Sydney.

A statewide total fire ban has been declared for all areas of NSW for all of Monday and Tuesday.

BUSHFIRES NEAR YOU

Click to visit the NSW Rural Fire Services “Fires Near Me” website.

RFS ADVICE YOU SHOULD FOLLOW

If a fire starts and takes hold during catastrophic fire danger conditions, lives and homes will be at risk.

The NSW Rural Fire Service’s advice for people in areas of catastrophic fire danger includes:

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

* Schools in identified high risk areas will be closed. Schools will notify affected students. Start making arrangements now. (A list of schools closed today is below).

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

Large areas of the state are also forecast to experience severe and extreme fire danger. This includes in the north coast and northern NSW areas, where there is a large number of fires already burning. These fires will not be contained before Tuesday’s severe weather conditions and will threaten lives and properties.

NSW SCHOOLS AND TAFE CLOSED MONDAY

The Department of Education has issued a list of schools that will not be operating on Monday, due to the impact of bushfires.

Principals of these schools are informing parents, carers and staff that these schools will not be operational.

If any parent, carer or staff member is in doubt about operational status of their school, they should not put themselves at risk by travelling there tomorrow.

The NSW Department of Education will continue monitoring the situation and will update this list in consultation with the Rural Fire Service.

Some independent schools and TAFE campuses in affected areas will also be non-operational.

CLOSED PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Barkers Vale Public School

Baryulgil Public School

Beechwood Public School

Bellbrook Public School

Ben Lomond Public School

Bobin Public School

Cascade Environmental Education Centre

Coolongolook Public School

Coopernook Public School

Coutts Crossing Public School

Deepwater Public School

Dundurrabin Public School

Elands Public School

Emmaville Central School

Hallidays Point Public School

Hannam Vale Public School

Harrington Public School

Heron’s Creek Public School

Huntington Public School

Johns River Public School

Lansdowne Public School

Long Flat Public School

Lowanna Public School

Manning Gardens Public School

Mingoola Public School

Mitchells Island Public School

Moorland Public School

Mount George Public School

Nabiac Public School

Nana Glen Public School

Nymboida Public School

Old Bar Public School

Oxley Island Public School

Pacific Palms Public School

Rollands Plains Upper Public School

Telegraph Point Public School

Tinonee Public School

Upper Lansdowne Public School

Willawarrin Public School

Wingham Brush Public School

Wingham Public School

Wytaliba Public School

Yarrowitch Public School

CLOSED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Taree Christian School

Manning River Anglican School

Alesco Senior College (Coast campus)

Tuntable Falls Community College

Port Macquarie Steiner School

The Nature School

Rainbow Ridge for Steiner Education

CLOSED TAFE CAMPUSES

Kempsey TAFE – 58 Sea Street, Kempsey, NSW 2240

Great Lakes TAFE – The Northern Parkway, Tuncurry, NSW 2428

Port Macquarie TAFE Campus – 70 Widderson Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2244

Wauchope TAFE Campus -- 18-20 Young Street, Wauchope, NSW 2446

Taree TAFE Campus – Montgomery Crescent, Taree NSW 2430

Macksville TAFE Campus – 5/9 West Street, Macksville NSW 2447

Originally published as What you need to know about the NSW bushfires