Pilliga Forest fire: Parts of Australia covered in smoke haze as poor air quality is warned

Parts of Australia are suffering from thick smoke as an out-of-control bushfire rages.

Air quality is poor in Greater Sydney due to a bushfire at Duck Creek in the Pilliga Forest, 570 km north of the city.

The fire has destroyed more than 130,000 hectares and authorities have warned that embers remain a danger to homes.

Smoke from the fire reached as far as Coonamble, Tamworth, Dubbo, Newcastle and Sydney.

Smoke from the fire reached as far as Coonamble, Tamworth, Dubbo, Newcastle and Sydney

Sydney’s smoke haze is expected to ease later on Tuesday as winds change.

‘A southerly change is forecast later this evening. So if you keep track of that on the weather apps you will see it moving slowly along the coast,” NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) spokesperson Greg Allan told us. 7NEWS.

“That should then clear all the smoke and other pollution from the Greater Sydney region. That won’t be until later tonight, but that should help clear the smoke.’

The air in the suburbs of Parramatta North, Macquarie Park and Rouse Hill is described as ‘poor’, according to New South Wales state government testing data.

Susceptible groups have been urged to avoid outdoor physical activity if they begin to notice symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

It is also advised that these groups in affected areas close windows when indoors and follow their own treatment plans.

All other residents are advised to reduce physical activity outdoors if they notice any unpleasant symptoms.

Air quality is recorded as ‘fair’ in Cammeray, Rozelle, Alexandria, Earlwood, Lidcombe, Liverpool, Bringelly, St Marys, Prospect and on the Bradfield Highway.

The Pilliga Forest fires have destroyed more than 130,000 hectares

The fire generated its own weather system that caused dangerous and erratic fire behavior

The Pilliga fire reached emergency level on Monday evening when heavy winds fanned the blaze, even creating its own weather system.

“Overnight the fire produced a thunderstorm (pyro-cumulonimbus) to the south-east of the fire ground, causing dangerous and erratic fire behaviour,” the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.

Sydneysiders took to social media on Tuesday to share their experiences with the smoke haze.

“I was wondering why the sky looked particularly apocalyptic today,” one user wrote

“Imagine if we had wildfires and storms on the same day.”

“I’m in Parramatta and everything is covered,” said another.

‘Can see and smell smoke in the Inner West. I cleaned my glasses a few times before I knew it,” wrote a third.