The NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone is on high alert heading into a Tuesday officials say "is not looking brilliant at all".
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Forested areas of the region, including Mount Canobolas, will be monitored closely in total fire ban conditions, with the extreme heat predicted for Tuesday increasing the potential for fires to spark, and then spread quickly.
A total fire ban is in place for the Central Ranges which includes Orange and council areas like Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Lithgow, Mid-Western and Oberon.
Predicted maximums for the region are set to soar, too, with Orange's predicted top of 35 degrees set to break the December record.
NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone fire mitigation officer Geoff Selwood said all forested areas in the region will be a concern for crews.
"That's areas around Goobang, Conimbla, Nangar, Wyangla and Mount Canobolas," he said.
... if you get a fairly decent wind it'll [the fire] just pop up into the [tree] canopy and away you go.
- NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone fire mitigation officer Geoff Selwood
"It's not looking all that brilliant ... if you get a fairly decent wind it'll [the fire] just pop up into the [tree] canopy and away you go."
Mr Selwood said thunderstorms often bring lightning strikes which can then ignite new fires in forested areas.
"If we're lucky we may not get any thunderstorms ... if we get lightning strikes in those areas it's a big concern," he said.
Mr Selwood said unless your house was "well and truly" prepared for fires that people should stay in town for the day.
"I'd be thinking about packing up my bags and moving to an area that's not at such risk," he said.
"If you're not mentally prepared for a fire, it's a bit late when you see it coming up the driveway."
During a total fire ban, no fire may be lit in the open and all fire permits are suspended.
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.
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