Sydney smoke: Air quality 10 times hazardous levels

Sydneysiders wake to a blanket of smoke, prompting authorities to issue a health warning.

Thick bushfire smoke blanketed Sydney on Tuesday morning. Picture: John Grainger

Air quality is 10 times hazardous levels in some areas of Sydney, prompting authorities to issue a warning to stay indoors.

Most of NSW’s east coast is under severe or very high fire danger as the state heads into the first of two “tough days” for the week with temperatures likely to rise into the 40s and little-to-no rainfall forecast.

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LIVE: Remarkable pictures just into the newsroom show the dense smoke lingering over Sydney Harbour city – with only the top of the CBD now visible. #9News pic.twitter.com/p5jWEGmMBO

— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 18, 2019

Winds dragged smoke from a huge fire at Gospers Mountain north-west of the Sydney over the city on Tuesday morning and the haze is unlikely to dissipate until a southerly change in the afternoon.

Air quality in Sydney reached hazardous levels on Tuesday. Picture: NSW DPIE

Prospect, in the city’s west, recorded an air quality index reading of 2334, while Rouse Hill in the north-west reached 2131. Parramatta North hit 679, while Chullora (540), Randwick (336) and the CBD (327) were also well over the hazardous range.

A “good” air quality is rated below 66.

Tough gig calling the trials at Warwick Farm this morning pic.twitter.com/zGlBF02LtG

— Punters.com.au (@Punters) November 18, 2019

People with asthma or other breathing issues are being warned to stay indoors, avoid outdoor exercise and seek medical advice as needed. NSW Health has advised that children, older adults and people with heart and lung conditions are most susceptible to the effects of air pollution and excessive smoke.

Sydney is swallowed by a smoke from bushfires to the north of the city. Picture: Nine News

“If you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities if smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice,’’ it says.

There are a number of fires burning across NSW. Smoke from these fires is likely to affect broad areas across the northeast of NSW including Taree, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Sydney.

Thick bushfire smoke blankets Sydney as seen from Vaucluse. Picture: John Grainger

Six lives and 530 homes have been lost since the state’s bushfire season hit some weeks ago, with more than 420 homes destroyed in the past fortnight alone.

Tuesday and Thursday will be “tough days”, Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.

Smoke hovers above Sydney this morning. Picture: Fiona Eloise Bulle @fifail

Parts of the state under severe fire danger on Tuesday include Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Southern Ranges and Central Ranges.

These regions, along with the Northern Slopes and North Western regions, are also under a total fire ban.

Much of the rest of eastern NSW and the ACT is under very high fire danger. Mr Rogers said some 1.6 million hectares of land have been burnt — more land than the entire 1993/1994 season.

Firefighters were on Monday battling a firefront of some 6000 kilometres, the equivalent distance of a return Sydney-Perth trip, he said.

An air quality warning has been issued for Sydney as thick bushfire smoke blankets the city. pic.twitter.com/3IoqrcYUQk

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) November 18, 2019

Mr Rogers said firefighters were “singularly focused” on preventing further loss of life and property and warned people to stay alert.

“Even though it’s not a catastrophic danger (this week) it’s still going to be bad fire days,” he said.

He urged anyone who had not yet been affected by bushfires to “please use this as a wake-up call”, warning them to take steps including cleaning out gutters and having a fire safety plan in place.

At 8am there are 48 fires burning in NSW and 23 are uncontained. Seven areas have total fire bans in place. Hot and windy conditions are expected today and many of the active fires may spread. Smoke may dissipate today but will return later. Stay up to date. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/cc2TwlwbgZ

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 18, 2019

Premier Gladys Berejiklian asked everyone to “maintain their vigilance”. Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the biggest risk in the coming days would be firefighters becoming fatigued.

A DC10 air tanker had been drafted in from North America to help drop up to 38,000 litres of water and retardant on blazes and efforts will be bolstered by help from New Zealand firefighters, he said.

A warning has been issued to Sydneysiders as air quality in the city plummets due to lingering smoke from the NSW bushfires. Picture: Seven News

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

■ Residents are advised to stay indoors, with windows and doors closed, or stay in airconditioned premises, if possible.

■ Avoid vigorous exercise, especially if you have asthma or a lung condition.

■ Cover your nose and mouth with a mask designed to filter fine particles. Use a mask rated either P1 or P2. These are available from hardware stores.

■ P2 masks are more effective in blocking the finest particles, however any mask has to be worn correctly over the nose and mouth to protect you.

What harbour bridge? Sydney smoke haze at extreme level. Can’t even see CBD from Yarranabbe Park. Pack your asthma puffer this morning. pic.twitter.com/HK6dd41olx

— Nick D-M (@NickDM) November 18, 2019

Qld to swelter through fires, heatwave

Fire-ravaged Queensland is also bracing for searing temperatures up to 40 degrees as exhausted firefighters struggle to contain bushfires burning across the state. Heatwave conditions are expected to hit the state on Wednesday as hot winds sweep across the southern interior, according to the weather bureau. The temperatures will ramp up the fire danger as residents in the path of a monster fire fled as the blaze closed in on the town of Crows Nest, north of Toowoomba, on Monday.

The massive fire in the Pechey State Forest has tripled in size forcing schools and businesses to close with reports up tofive homes have been lost. Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the fire threat was at emergency level.

A photo of fires in Queensland from a flight to Melbourne. Picture: Instagram/@maegan_kb

“I have never seen a scenario like this — it’s a perfect storm,” Mr Antonio said.

He said the coming heatwave would be a “massive problem”.

“As of Monday morning, the 14,000 hectares of land had been burned out. That is expanding by the minute.

“This fire is out of control, we are doing all we can to contain it, but we will not risk limb and life.” The monster fire has been burning for days, causing severe damage to the water supply to Toowoomba and a dozen surrounding smaller communities. Residents are restricted to domestic water use only as the council works to repair the network damage with water supply for firefighters the priority. The massive fire in the Pechey State Forest has tripled in size, forcing schools and businesses to close as firefighters struggle to contain it.

The state’s bushfire crisis has entered its second week, with more than 80 fires burning across the state.

Some five new firefighting injuries have been reported since 2pm on Sunday, however these are minor and include smoke inhalation and a twisted ankle. More than 158,000 hectares has been burnt and 16 homes have been lost.

AAP