Sydney, Dec 6 (NationPress) The New South Wales Rural Fire Services (NSW RFS), which is the primary agency handling bushfires in New South Wales, announced on Saturday morning the implementation of a total fire ban affecting the Greater Sydney Region along with eight additional regions for the day.

"Hot, dry, and windy conditions are anticipated across much of the state today, with areas experiencing Extreme and High fire dangers," stated the authority in a Facebook update. As of 9 a.m. local time, 57 fires were reported to be active throughout NSW, with nine still uncontained.

NSW RFS emphasized that firefighting crews and incident management teams are diligently working to fortify containment lines around these blazes. Residents in proximity to these fires are urged to remain vigilant and updated by using the mobile application and the official website, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation highlighted that the first significant heatwave of the summer is expected to peak in NSW, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius potentially stretching from the north-west of Western Australia to Parramatta in the Greater Sydney Region.

Severe heatwave conditions persist across NSW, impacting extensive areas in the eastern part of the state from the Hunter region down to the southern coastline.

In Tasmania, a rapidly spreading fire at Dolphin Sands on the east coast has resulted in damage to over a dozen homes, sheds, and vehicles, and two firefighters sustained injuries while battling the blaze.

Fire crews in Tasmania are investigating the cause of the blaze, utilizing both aerial and ground units to manage the situation. The fire has already consumed over 700 hectares.

While the fire remains at a watch-and-act level, the Tasmania Fire Service advises residents to steer clear of the affected area.

A shift in weather patterns is expected, bringing cooler temperatures and scattered showers across Tasmania on Saturday, providing essential relief for firefighters.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that temperatures in NSW will remain unusually high on Saturday, with Sydney expected to hit 37 degrees Celsius and parts of the western suburbs soaring into the low 40s.

On Friday evening, improved weather conditions allowed firefighters to gain control over numerous blazes, leading authorities to lower the emergency alert for residents near Beni Road, just outside Dubbo, as well as for the bushfire near Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast.

On Saturday, extensive areas of NSW—including inland regions, northern and eastern zones, Sydney, and the Illawarra—will be under total fire bans.