Sydney’s lingering bushfire smoke has triggered indoor office smoke alarms, impacting inner-city workers as air quality plunges to hazardous levels.
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Workers across the city report their fire-detection systems are now reacting to the haze, with several saying they have been forced to temporarily disable their alarms.
#sydneysmoke has set off our office fire alarms pic.twitter.com/zog0FK71i1
— sjkeyworth (@sjkeyworth) December 10, 2019
Bush fire smoke triggered the fire alarm in our building #bushfiresNSW #usyd pic.twitter.com/zWN80Cwv8h
— Vickel Narayan (@vnarayan) December 10, 2019
Smoke alarm time @smh #sydneysmoke pic.twitter.com/b1c8zJNb3b
— Lawrence Champness (@champy) December 10, 2019
Our entire work building just had to turn every smoke alarm off because the bushfire smoke kept setting them all off……that’s how bad it is today……I mean just look at this! pic.twitter.com/xTWKyrlzm2
— Katherine’s always emotional (@Katherinoooo) December 10, 2019
When the work fire alarm is set off and firefighters are called in cause of the #sydneysmoke pic.twitter.com/9y3W1wNVUJ
— Anna Fitzgerald (@annajfitz) December 10, 2019
False alarms have also impacted classes at the University of New South Wales’ Kensington campus.
Nothing like a fire alarm to get people out of their offices and talking to each other. pic.twitter.com/XIQOq6GO3N
— Marcel Dinger (@MarcelDinger) December 10, 2019
Fire alarms at train stations have also been impacted, with social media footage showing a false fire alert at Wynyard Station.
Bushfire smoke in the CBD has set off the fire alarm at Wynyard Station #nswbushfire pic.twitter.com/tosA91ldSd
— Jaden Harris (@JadenHarris95) December 10, 2019
Transport NSW has advised commuters the issue could impact stations throughout the day, and could potentially interfere with Opal card gates across the network.
Due to bushfire smoke, fire safety alarms may activate at some stations.
Please follow the instructions of staff.
Opal gates will be affected should an alarm be activated. If you require a fare adjustment, please see: https://t.co/YIPyvCX0YG pic.twitter.com/tLk1ddCpi9
— Trains Info (@TrainsInfo) December 10, 2019
Sydney Ferries have also been suspended due to poor visibility. Replacement buses are slated to run this afternoon as the haze persists.
Ferries are not running due to thick smoke. Buses are being organized to replace F1 Manly services but aren’t on site yet.
— Sydney Ferries Info (@FerriesInfo) December 10, 2019
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment states visibility in Macquarie Park, Parramatta North, and Prospect is currently ten times above ‘Hazardous’ ratings.
Similarly, the entire metro region is now reporting ‘Hazardous’ levels of airborne particles, with authorities warning residents to avoid prolonged exposure.
The smoke, blown in from severe bushfires to the city’s west, has impacted the city for weeks.
Speaking to PEDESTRIAN.TV last week, the Bureau of Meteorology said “grim” fire conditions were expected for the remainder of summer.
More to come.
