Sydney’s air quality is currently among the worst in the world due to ongoing hazard reduction burns. The haze of smoke has blanketed the city since early this week and is expected to persist across the city in the coming days. In preparation for what is being touted as Australia’s most intense bushfire season since the “Black Summer” of 2019-2020, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service has been conducting hazard prevention burns on Sydney’s forested outskirts to reduce fuel loads ahead of summer. Air quality in Sydney CBD and the east has been the worst according to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
Rural Fire Service NSW has told the ABC that the fires have stopped for now and that the smoke should clear ahead of the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, September 17. 40,000 runners are expected to hit the streets for the annual marathon which kicks off at Milsons Point all the way to the Sydney Opera House. The Bureau of Meteorology website also confirms that the smoke haze is expected to lift on Saturday.
How can you keep yourself safe with the current smoke haze?
Residents have been advised to limit their time outdoors and keep the doors and windows shut to reduce any impact on health. It is also advised to exercise indoors while the smoke haze clears up.
If you like to venture outdoors for your daily exercise, an air quality forecast for the Sydney Metropolitan Region is made at 4pm every day on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
If you’re participating in the Sydney Marathon, keep an eye on their Instagram page for guidelines and tips on how best to prepare ahead of the weekend.
Rural Fire Service NSW has also said that hazard-reduction burns will continue in the coming months ahead of a risky bushfire season.