Sydney's Hazard Reduction Burns: Crews Push Ahead

0:00Sydney's got that smoky haze hanging thick right now, all thanks to hazard reduction burns around the city's edges. Fire crews from the Royal Fire Service and others have already treated 5,000 hectares since Saturday, hitting spots like Hornsby Up North, Royal National Park, Down South, the Blue Mountains Out West, and near Bargo, Southwest. They're pushing hard with another 850 hectares planned for today, including a big one near Wentworth Falls. Dry and calm weather is giving them the perfect window to get ahead on clearing out fuel loads before bushfire season ramps up again. Folks in Greater Sydney are noticing the smoke drifting in, especially as an inversion layer settles it down tonight. It'll make breathing a bit rough around burned sites and broader areas, but winds should kick in late Friday morning to push it out. The crews are way behind their yearly target, though, with just 48,000 hectares, done out of a 372,000 goal. Blame record wet weather last August and flooding over recent years that's cramped their style.

1:03Statewide, firefighters wrapped the season tackling over 10,200 bush and grass fires that scorched 126,000. Hectares, more incidents than last year, but less total burn area. Though keep grabbing these chances to stay safe, heading into whatever comes next. That's the story for today. Sydney News Today, driven by AI.