Climate of urgency follows fire warning

For the first time, the Shoalhaven was the subject of a catastrophic fire danger warning as hot, dry winds swept the region, cloaking it in a thick pall of dust.

Schools were closed, residents were once again urged to formulate bushfire survival plans, the Emergency Operations Centre at West Nowra was activated and large animal evacuation centres were offered.

The Shoalhaven was on high alert.

We kept you informed throughout the day with our free live blog, as RFS crews checked multiple reports of smoke, most of which were false alarms. Understandably, many residents mistook the dust for smoke.

What no one mistook was a fire in Worrigee, lit by a nine-year-old with a blowtorch. The boy was cautioned by police.

The conditions eased by the end of the day but the RFS warned against complacency. Again they pleaded for people to draw up their survival plans because a long and perilous summer lies ahead.

We think there's another matter which needs urgent attention - the climate emergency. It's no longer any good putting off serious action for another day. The fires across NSW and Queensland show us the time to act is now.