Sydney has been smothered in a thick haze of smoke due to hazard reduction burns, with organisers of this weekend's Sydney Marathon working to ensure the safety of its event.
Hazard reduction burns over the last few days, which were delayed last week, have lowered air quality in parts of the week, and it's expected to continue for several days.
Air quality in Sydney's eastern and northern suburbs was rated "very poor" and "poor" by the NSW Department of Health on Tuesday morning.
People are urged to stay indoors or in an air-conditioned environment if possible.
The Sydney Marathon will continue despite the hazardous air quality, with event organisers vowing to put on a safe event for runners.
"Sydney Marathon will provide an update on expected weather conditions and detailed guidance to all participants on how to best take care of themselves before, during, and after the race," race director Wayne Larden said.
"The safety and wellbeing of our participants is our highest priority, and we are working closely with key stakeholders including the Rural Fire Service and Bureau of Meteorology to ensure the highest safety standards are implemented."
It comes as the Rural Fire Service catches up on hazard reduction as the weather begins to warm up.
"We've got a lot of burning to do, we didn't get a lot done last year because of the wet so this year, it's full steam ahead," RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said.
Rogers said the burns were creating a large amount of smoke for the Sydney basin.
"It's called Sydney basin because it acts like a basin and particularly overnight, it gets an inversion layer and it traps that smoke," Rogers said.
Asthmatic people are warned to keep their preventer close if they can smell the smoke this morning, and to keep doors and windows closed.
"If you've got respiratory issues, make sure you've got your medication with you and do what you can to keep away from that smoke," Rogers said.
The NSW Health Department warns that people with heart or lung diseases, older adults, children, and pregnant women may be particularly vulnerable.
Air purifiers with a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter can be used indoors to help clear the air.
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While surgical and cloth masks don't protect against smoke, P2/N95 face masks can - though they can also make it more difficult to breathe, the Department says.
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2023-09-12 08:58:42Z
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