IN just five days 28 bush and grass fires have ignited across the Chifley region, and firefighters are bracing themselves for more scorching weather this week.
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The mercury is again set to soar from Wednesday with maximums of at least 32 degrees expected to run until Friday.
NSW Rural Fire Service Chifley operational officer Brett Taylor said of the 28 fires that have occurred across Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon, 20 begun during Friday’s lightning storm.
And while more hot weather is predicted, he said the humidity so far across Chifley has been a benefit for firefighters during recent blazes.
“The high humidity has been in our favour, we’ve been able to contain them to a few hundred hectares,” he said.
“Humidity is on our side and the cool nights are helping.”
Despite this, Mr Taylor said conditions remain very dry.
“Things are lighting up so easily because it’s so dry. The drought factor is as high as it can be and so is the curing,” Mr Taylor said.
“It’s very dry and very volatile.”
Bathurst has recorded well above average temperatures so far this January.
The long term average maximum temperature for the city during this month is 28.1 degrees, however, so far 16 days this month have been above this.