SYDNEY, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Greater Sydney region will face a total fire ban on Thursday as hot and windy weather is forecast to sweep across the region.
According to information released on the website of New South Wales Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS), a total fire ban has been issued to the Greater Sydney region and the Illawarra region for Thursday. The two regions are forecast to see "extreme" and "high" fire danger, respectively, on Thursday.
According to the NSW RFS, a total fire ban means no fires out in the open, including light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or to carry out any activity in the open that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire.
Bush fires are more likely to spread and cause damage on days when the weather is very hot, dry and windy, especially when the fire danger rating is "extreme" or "catastrophic," said the NSW RFS.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts Sydney will see a maximum temperature of 27 degrees Celsius on Thursday with a wind speed ranging from 15 km/h to 35 km/h. ■