Fire erupts on Sydney rooftop
Firefighters have managed to bring a fire on the top floor of Sydney apartment block under control.
The unit blaze at Centennial Park in the city's east was contained just before 4.30pm.
A man was trapped in the stairwell of the burning building on Cook Road.
"He's been helped down by firefighters and brought to safety without any injury," Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Ian Krimmer said.
Timber decking on top of the building had been alight, but the cause was not yet known.
It comes as Sydney swelters through one of its hottest days on record, with temperatures predicted to hit 39 degrees.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and senior police are warning people to abide by total fire bans across the state.
Fire and Rescue NSW said it had mobilised almost 250 fire engines and 1000 firefighters after bringing in reserves and recalling off-duty personnel.
Mr O'Farrell said strong wind gusts predicted for later Thursday combined with the hot weather meant out-of-control fires were more likely to occur.
"Today's a day which, if everybody behaves responsibly ... we will hopefully avoid those consequences," he told reporters.
Fire bugs would be shown no mercy, Sydney general metropolitan region commander Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said.
"If they want to behave in a manner where they come to our notice and they start a fire ... they can expect absolutely no mercy. I mean no mercy," he told a media conference.
