Total fire bans in NSW as temperatures of up to 45C expected

Expected temperatures of up to 45C coupled with strong winds are leading to a total fire ban in some areas of NSW.

The NSW Rural Fire Service is urging landholders and farm workers to exercise extreme caution due to the significant increase in fire danger across the state.

Lower Central West Plains, Southern Riverina, Eastern Riverina, Southern Slopes and Southern Ranges districts all have a total fire ban in effect from Friday, with the dangerous conditions expected to last into the weekend.

The rest of NSW, including Greater Sydney, has a severe fire danger rating for Friday, with hot temperatures forecast and winds gusting up to 60 km/h in some areas.

Firefighters have been called to 20 harvest related fires in the past week, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says.

"These fires serve as a timely reminder to farmers that they need to be especially careful and consider the conditions when using machinery," he said.