Due to forecast severe fire weather conditions, all visitor areas within the Pilliga Forest will be closed today Wednesday 20 September.

This includes walking tracks, picnic facilities and campgrounds.

The Warrumbungle National Park is also affected with the National Parks & Wildlife Service advising of an EXTREME fire danger rating.

Walking tracks and remote campsites were closed from 5pm Tuesday 19 September and, at this stage, will reopen at 9am on Thursday 21 September.

The following walking tracks will remain open in Warrumbungle National Park

• White Gum Lookout walking track,
• Wambelong nature trail
• Gurianawa circuit

The following campsites will remain open:

• Blackman 
• Walaay
• Wambelong

Please consult the http://nationalparks.nsw.gov.au website for details on all reserve alerts. 

Yesterday, The Climate Council urged Australians to prepare for hot, dry and potentially dangerous fire conditions, as the Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared that both an El Niño event and positive Indian Ocean Dipole are underway.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s update comes as fires burn around the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. In Sydney, yesterday marked the hottest three consecutive days ever recorded during September, alongside the announcement of a total fire ban, catastrophic fire conditions for the south coast, and school closures in some areas.

At the same time abnormally high sea temperatures over recent months have triggered a red alert among scientists. They warn that we’re speeding towards uncharted and dangerous territory.

The Climate Council has reinforced the need to move away from fossil fuels and strengthen Australia’s environment laws to consider climate impacts of any new projects. Today, the Climate Council will release a report that warns of the scorching consequences of a failure to reduce our emissions this decade.

“An El Niño event can be like putting fire weather on steroids. With the warmer and drier conditions it usually brings, we could be looking at an extended and potentially volatile fire season," Climate Councillor and leader of the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) group, Greg Mullins said. "

"Already significant fires have been raging nationwide, including in NSW, Queensland, WA and the NT. A fire near Tennant Creek has already burned hundreds of thousands of hectares, and the entire Northern Territory has been declared a fire zone until next March. Nationally, we’re warned of a hotter, drier Spring and Summer"