A total fire ban has been declared for Friday, November 8 in the Northern Rivers.

The ban includes: no fires out in the open on Friday, including open fire barbeques, hot coal barbeques and general purpose hot works in the open, such as welding, grinding or gas cutting.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has reported that the current forecast weather and fire danger is worse than the on October 8 when the Busby’s Flat fire in Richmond Valley caused so much damage.

RFS fire crews have brought under control fires which began near Lismore yesterday.

These fires include a bush fire at Wardell Road at Wardell, grass fires burning at Myall Creek Road at Bora Ridge and at Wyrallah Road at Tuckarimba, and a pine needle fire at Carwon State Forest in Richmond Valley. 

Yesterday, there were 66 bush and grass fires burning across NSW, with 19 still to be contained. 

All State forests from Sydney to the Queensland border are closed. Read more: All State forests to the border closed from today

With seven total fire bans and increased fire danger across the state, The RFS strongly suggests people review their bush fire survival plans and know what you will do if fire threatens.

“If a fire starts in your area it will not be controllable in these weather conditions”, the RFS reported.

“If you are not prepared or would not be completely safe if you are in a bush fire prone area, you should leave early.”

Read more about the severe weather and the dust plume over the region: Severe weather brings brown skies to Lismore