Bushfire danger to reach its peak on NYE as temperatures soar above 40C
The mercury will continue to rise across NSW as the new year draws closer, with bushfire danger reaching its peak on 2019's final day.
After elevated temperatures caused NSW to sweat on Saturday, conditions around the state are expected to further deteriorate on Sunday.
Total fire bans have been declared in the southern and central ranges, while 11 NSW regions and the ACT will be under "very high" fire danger.
Penrith in western Sydney will rise to 41C on Sunday as a fresh heatwave kicks in, while regional centres in the Hunter, central west, central and southern tablelands will feel the heat with temperatures well above 35C.
Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, with New Year's Eve forecasts of more than 40C across western Sydney and in regional NSW.
Penrith is forecast to reach a high of 44 and Parramatta 42.
The rising temperatures come after firefighters spent the past week striving to contain large and complex bushfires before conditions worsen.
Two firefighters have been killed this fire season and as many as 1000 NSW houses destroyed. Almost 110 fires were burning in NSW on Saturday.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters had completed challenging work in areas such as the Blue Mountains and south coast, backburning and establishing containment lines.
Mr Fitzsimmons said the RFS was not expecting a return of catastrophic conditions on Tuesday but firefighters and communities would be challenged.
A rapidly-growing fire near Tarcutta in the Snowy Valleys was on Saturday afternoon raised to "emergency" level as it burned erratically towards the east, but has since been downgraded back to "advice".
Persistent, large bushfires at Gospers Mountain northwest of Sydney, Green Wattle Creek southwest of Sydney and Currowan in the Shoalhaven continue to burn, with authorities admitting only rain will put them out.
The federal government, meanwhile, has announced RFS volunteers battling long-running blazes could receive up to $6000 in financial support.
The payments of up to $300 per day will be available to Rural Fire Service NSW volunteers who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses.
They will be capped at $6000 per person and are tax-free.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the payments would be equivalent to 20 days of emergency leave for the eligible volunteers.
Residents forced to flee in Victoria
Residents in Victoria's far east have been urged to flee an out-of-control blaze amid worsening fire conditions.
An emergency warning is in place for Bonang, Cabanandra, Deddick Valley, Dellicknora, Tubbut and Amboyne, in the state's East Gippsland region, with people urged to leave immediately
"Leaving now is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous," the alert first issued on Saturday night said.
"Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay."
People at nearby Goongerah and Martins Creek were also told to flee the fire burning easterly towards their communities.
Police have been door-knocking in the area over the last two days.
It comes ahead of worsening conditions for Sunday, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s in East Gippsland and the risk of dry lightning from forecast thunderstorms.
A total fire ban will be in place for the Mallee district in Victoria's northwest, with the ban extending to the entire state on Monday.
Some suspicious grass fires are under police investigation.
Firefighters attended a suspicious grass fire in Glenmore about 3.50pm on Saturday, which burnt about 10 hectares, police said on Sunday.
Less than 30 minutes later, there was a suspicious grass fire in Bacchus Marsh and another blaze sparked in Parwan.
It comes after a suspicious grass fire in White Hills, a suburb of Bendigo, threatened businesses and homes on Saturday.
Fires bans in South Australia
Much of South Australia, including Adelaide’s CBD, remains under a high fire danger rating.
Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Gawler all have a severe fire danger rating with bans in place.
Fires east of the city continue to burn with a grass fire at Hollands Creek Road, Cudlee Creek, still burning, along with a number of others in surrounding areas including Harrogate.
Adelaide can expect a high of 40 on Monday before it cools down to 25 for New Year’s Eve.
Hawker and Leigh Creek, north of Adelaide, can expect similar conditions after the final weekend of 2019.
Lightning causes fire in WA
A watch and act warning is in place for a bushfire burning in the Stirling Range National Park, southeast of Perth.
The blaze has already burnt through more than 10,000 hectares of scrub after being started by a lightning strike.
Emergency WA says there is a possible threat to lives and homes in the area as conditions are continually changing.
An emergency warning was issued for the fire on Saturday night but has since been downgraded.
As a result, an evacuation centre at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre has been closed, although one at the Gnowangerup Sports Complex remains open.
The blaze is burning slowly in a northwesterly direction and remains out of control and unpredictable.
About 20 Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines.
Perth residents are in for a warm NYE with temperatures set for a high of 31.
Windy Harbour, Walpole and surrounding areas in the state’s south can expect temperatures in the low 20s.
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