Update 8:10 pm
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School closures are as follows:
Buxton Primary School
Aurora Southern Highlands Steiner School
Chevalier College
Oxley College
Wollondilly Anglican College
Colo Vale Public School
Hill Top Public School
Penrose Public School
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Bowral
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Mittagong
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Moss Vale
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Picton
Due to catastrophic fire conditions declared by the Rural Fire Service for November 12 Wingecarribbe Shire Council will close council managed sporting fields, cemeteries and bushland reserves until further notice.
Update 5 pm:
School closures are as follows:
Colo Vale Public School
Hill Top Public School
Penrose Public School
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Bowral
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Mittagong
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Moss Vale
St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Picton
Update 4:03 pm:
Wingecarribee Shire Council Children's Services have canceled all of its Family Day Care Services and Out of School Hours Service for tomorrow, November 12.
Penrose Public School will be closed on November 12.
Earlier:
A catastrophic fire warning has been issued for the Southern Highlands for November 12.
High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity have been forecasted.
There are a number of schools that have closed due to the catastrophic fire warning; including Colo Vale Public School. A full list of schools can be found here.
A spokesperson for the Wingecarribee fire control centre said residents should be prepared.
"This includes clearing the property and making sure the gutters are clear," she said.
A total fire ban is also in place.
This includes incinerators and barbecues which burn solid fuel such as wood, charcoal or heat beads. No general purpose welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting can be done in the open.
Canyonleigh RFS has advised residents of the area to enact their bush fire survival plan and to leave the area at 7 am and not to return until 7 pm or until safe.
A post on the Canyonleigh RFS Facebook pages states that "unless your home has been built to the latest bush fire code, you have a pump, hoses and a nearby water source, or your property and yourself/family is prepared for a potential bushfire, we recommend you consider staying away from the area until early evening."
"We ask that you check with the RFS web site or Fires Near Me app regularly for the latest Fire Danger Ratings and if any fires are within our region.
"Should a fire start in our area, and under the forecast conditions, the fire will spread quickly and will threaten homes and lives.
"Whilst we will endeavour to update the community via Facebook or our web site over the next 24-48 hours, we cannot guarantee currency due to limited resources."
Advice for people in areas of Catastrophic fire danger according to the NSW Rural Fire Service include:
Avoid bush fire prone areas. A safer area may be a large town or city, shopping centres or facilities well away from bushland areas.
Schools in identified high risk areas will be closed. Schools will notify affected students. Start making arrangements now.If you are unable to leave, identify a safe location which may be nearby. This may include a Neighbourhood Safer Place.
Emergency Alert telephone warnings will not be sent to tell you about the fire danger. Warnings will continue to be issued for bush fires.
Stay up to date on bush fires in your area by listening to local radio, through the RFS website, through social media and the Fires Near Me NSW app.
If you see an unattended fire call 000.