& getting worse - Fresh emergency declared in bushfire-hit Tasmania Tasmania's bushfire crisis has taken another turn for the worse, with a fresh emergency declared in the state's far north-west.

The fire at Montumana is now listed as an emergency, while a blaze at Bicheno on the east coast is again causing concern. (read on)

and in my state NSW faces 'worst ever' fire danger day A total state-wide fire ban will be imposed in New South Wales from midnight as authorities prepare for temperatures to soar above 40 degrees.

The fire danger in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and southern ranges is expected to be catastrophic, with many other areas expecting extreme danger levels.

Premier Barry O'Farrell says record rains have produced large fuel loads which increase the risk of fire, combined with record temperatures and high winds.

"Tomorrow is not going to be just another ordinary day," he said.

"Tomorrow will be perhaps the worst fire danger day this state has ever faced."

More than 90 fires are burning across the state; around 20 of those are not under control, (read on & check out the Fire Ban Map)

I live about 1 km east of Sydney's CBD, close to the harbour (walk down the road, cross the intersection, walk down the next road & I can see the Harbour Bridge ) & we are accustomed to being at least 5 degrees cooler than Sydney's western suburbs. But tomorrow the CBD expects 43 Celcius & the western suburbs also 43, or 42, or 41. Bondi Beach is expecting 42!!

Sydney is the centre of the Catastrophic region which also includes Illawarra, Shoalhaven and southern ranges & I have friends in all those regions. At the end of next week several thousand folkies are heading to the Illawarra for the 28th Illawarra Folk festival - I hope. it's about 2 hours south of my place.

sandra (planning to stay in tomorrow with all 3 fans here in my living room & lotsa' water at hand - or maybe I'll head to the nearest big shopping centre for it's air conditioning)