Total fire ban issued for Top End regions as extreme conditions forecast
Bushfires NT and the NT Fire and Rescue Service have declared a fire ban period for Sunday spanning from midnight to midnight in Darwin, Palmerston, Coomalie and Litchfield.
The rule valid from 12 midnight stipulates that no person should light or cause a fire to be lit in the open in the portion of the NT within the fire ban zone.
Bushfires NT incident controller David Breadmore said extreme fire conditions were expected on Sunday across the Top End.
'With extreme fire danger forecast for Darwin, Palmerston, Coomalie and Litchfield this Sunday, conditions will be challenging and fire may be difficult to control,' he said.
'Low humidity, high temperatures, strong south-easterly winds and dry fuel loads mean fire can spread quickly and unpredictably.
'We urge everyone to be prepared, follow their Bushfire Survival Plan, and report any unattended fires to Triple Zero (000) immediately.'
For further information on fire bans and other fire restrictions contact Bushfires NT on 8922 0844 or visit https://securent.nt.gov.au/respond/bushfire-alerts or www.bushfires.nt.gov.au/incidentmap
Watch and act warning issued for Darwin River region
1.40pm Saturday: Emergency crews have issued a watch and act warning for the Darwin River region following a heightened fire risk for residents in the area.
A fire is spreading on multiple fronts with effective containment strategies not yet in place for the entire perimeter to combat the blaze.
Emergency services have warned that conditions are changing and people are urged to take action to protect their family and property.
Ground and aerial crews are in attendance and for the safety of firefighting crews drivers are urged to slow down, turn on their headlights and drive safely for the conditions.
Commuters are also warned to avoid the area if they can with smoke posing a risk to visibility while fire could creep on to the road.
The current situation may continue until at least 3pm.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
Outback Recovery: Western Queensland's devastating floods
The long road to recovery for graziers and communities affected by western Queensland's devastating floods.

News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Four days of heavy rain to drench Sydney, northern NSW from Monday
Millions of Australians on the country's east coast are in the firing line of a huge rain system expected to bring a four-day drenching. The latest forecasts show Sydney could get up to 100mm of rain starting on Monday. While tentative forecasts from a few days ago projected up to 200mm of rain could hit parts of the east coast, the Bureau of Meteorology has now solidified wet weather predictions for NSW. Sydney is now tipped to receive totals of 20mm, 30mm, 25mm, and 20mm in the four days from Monday. Brisbane could get up to 55mm of rain across Wednesday and Thursday. Outside of the capital cities, Port Macquarie is looking at forecasts of up to 105mm of rain between Tuesday and Thursday, the bureau forecasts. Near the Queensland-NSW border, Coolangatta could cop some of the heaviest rainfall, with the bureau predicting up to 60mm of rain on Wednesday and another 50mm the day after. The heavy rain is forecast to create minor flooding in northern NSW. There is already a moderate flood warning for the Namoi River at Goangra. These waters are heading to Walgett this weekend and into Monday. 'This may cause minor flooding at Walgett from around Wednesday,' the Bureau of Meteorology warns. Ahead of the heavy rain, a cold snap continues to hit parts of the southeast. Snow is falling at most of Australia's ski resorts, with temperatures at Thredbo dropping below -5C on Sunday morning. Conditions are essentially opposite at the top of the country. There is an extreme fire danger warning for the Darwin and Adelaide River areas. 'Fresh and gusty winds coupled with warm and dry conditions will generate elevated fire dangers during Sunday,' the bureau warns. Sydneysiders are in for a mostly sunny and mild Sunday, with temperatures to peak at 17C. The day is expected to be cooler and cloudy in Melbourne, with a top of 13C and a chance of showers from late morning. Brisbane is tipped to stay sunny and reach 22C, while a high chance of showers and maximum of 13C is forecast for Adelaide. Perth is likely to remain cloudy with a top of 20C. Both Canberra and Hobart can expect partly cloudy conditions, with respective maximums of 13C and 11C. Temperatures in sunny Darwin are expected to peak at 33C.

ABC News
19 hours ago
- ABC News
Dog owners seek safety solutions amid South Australia's deadly algal bloom
Walking along the beautiful sandy beaches near her home in South Brighton was a daily ritual for Alexandra Ahlgren since she moved to Adelaide from Sweden in 2007. That changed with the arrival on Adelaide's shores of the deadly algal bloom. "It got really bad here early July, with dead fish," Ms Ahlgren said. She kept away both out of concern for her dogs' safety and because the sight of dead marine life strewn along the sand was so distressing. While her "oldie goldie" Zoe was not a scavenger, Ms Ahlgren said her other dogs became a liability at the beach. Labradoodle Ronja and staffy-cross rescue dog Mike were "like vacuum cleaners" and would try and eat every fish they came across. So when Ms Ahlgren made her way down through the dunes during some recent sunny winter weather, it was the first time in nearly six weeks. Ms Ahlgren was not optimistic the bloom would clear as the weather warmed and ordered muzzles. At a cost of around $100 each, the muzzles will allow her dogs to keep visiting the beach during the spring and summer months, allowing them to pant and open their mouths wide enough to regulate temperature but prevent them from gobbling anything dead. "I want to be prepared with good muzzles and try to work on some of my emotional coping skills to be back here on my beach," she said. Ms Ahlgren believes beachgoers like herself will need to navigate a new normal where the bloom is just a part of their lives, albeit an unwelcome and tragic part. "I think, unfortunately, we are in for the long haul because now it's just going to start warming up again," she said. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed this week that the bloom would likely impact the coast throughout the spring and summer months. Michael Quinton is a keen surfer and dedicated veterinarian. He was one of the original surfers to feel ill after surfing at Parsons and Waitpinga beaches, south of Victor Harbor, in March. Dr Quinton said at that time he saw a spike in dogs being brought to his practice with respiratory issues. He said he also saw a number of canines with "non-specific gastrointestinal issues" that he believed were a result of them eating rotting material on the beaches. Dr Quinton said many local dog owners started to walk their dogs away from the beach or on-lead and the issue quickly passed. Dr Quinton said it was normal for his practice to treat a few dogs each year that came into contact with puffer fish, but did not believe the algal bloom had led to an increase in incidences. However, he said puffer fish could be deadly for dogs and said if anyone did see or suspect that their dog had eaten one, they should take it to a vet immediately. For dog owners returning to the beach in the warm weather, Dr Quinton recommended investing in a comfortable, soft muzzle to prevent their dogs from picking up dead fish. "It's for the greater good," he said. The Department for Primary Industries and Resources SA's (PIRSA) chief veterinary officer, Skye Fruean, said it was expected that dogs and humans would have similar mild reactions to contact with the algae. She said dog owners should not let their dogs go into discoloured or foamy water, but if that did occur, to wash them off as soon as possible. Dr Fruean said it was always good practice to make sure dogs did not pick up dead fish. "Eating rotten, dead fish could have a direct effect in terms of contact with algae," she said. "But it's also if it's decomposing, that can also make dogs sick for other reasons in terms of giving them an upset tummy." Dr Freun said there had been no cases reported to PIRSA of dogs falling ill as a result of contact with the bloom. "I'm aware … of one anecdotal report, going back a little while now, where there was a suggested link with illness in a dog being linked to the algal bloom," she said. "We haven't had any verification of that and our broad advice is if you are concerned about your dog's health please, go see your vet."