Premier Gladys Berejiklian has declared a state of emergency for New South Wales ahead of catastrophic conditions predicted for this week across the state including the Central West.
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Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons wrote to Premier Gladys Berejiklian requesting she declare a state of emergency under Section 33 of the State of Emergency and Rescue Management Act.
The Premier has granted emergency powers to the RFS Commissioner.
"Our state has already been hit by some of the most devastating bushfires we have ever seen, with three lives lost and more than 150 structures destroyed," Ms Berejiklian said.
"With catastrophic weather conditions predicted for this week, particularly Tuesday with hot weather and strong winds, I have decided to take the Commissioner's advice and make this declaration."
The state of emergency declaration, the first since October 2013, allows powers to be transferred from the NSW Government to the RFS Commissioner.
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These powers include the ability to:
Direct any government agency to conduct or refrain from conducting its functions;
Control and coordinate the allocation of government resources;
Evacuate people from property within the declared area;
Close roads and thoroughfares to traffic;
Pull down or shore up infrastructure at risk of collapse;
Order the shutdown of essential utilities in the declared area including electricity, gas, oil and water; and
Enter or take possession of property in the course of the emergency response.
The declaration is valid for seven days from Monday.
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