Sydney blanketed by smoke for a 4th day due to hazard reduction burning

Sydney blanketed by smoke due to hazard reduction burns. 14% of planned burns completed. Burning suspended due to excessive pollution. Wildfire season expected to be most destructive since 2019-20. Rain created larger fuel loads, only 25% of hazard reduction target achieved.

Sydney was blanketed under thick wood smoke for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday due to hazard reduction burns in preparation for the wildfire season.

Australia's most populous city after Melbourne has recorded some of the world's worst air quality readings since the controlled burning of fuel loads in the surrounding landscapes began on Sunday.

Fire authorities have only carried out 14% of planned hazard reduction burns across New South Wales state as of this week and are attempting to catch up before what is forecast to be a hot and dry Southern Hemisphere summer.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said the burns were suspended on Thursday and Friday because of excessive pollution levels and that Sydney's air was expected to clear soon.

“It's mostly due to the smoke,” Mr. Shepherd said of the postponements.

“For the next 48 hours, we'll give this smoke a chance to clear without fire agencies adding additional smoke to it,” Mr. Shepherd added.

Rain had prevented burning last week and an increased fire danger due to rising temperatures and windy conditions was expected to prevent burning late next week.