There’s a total fire ban in Sydney and eight other regions across New South Wales as weather conditions are expected to deteriorate.

More than 80 bushfires are burning across the state, with hot, dry and windy weather expected to fan the flames.

More than 2.7-million hectares of bushland has burnt already this fire season with firefighters expecting the situation to continue for months.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons tells Steve Price rain is the only thing that can extinguish these bushfires.

“The expectation that we’re going to put all of that out until we get some good rain… it just ain’t going to happen.

“The focus for us is to become this barrier between the fire fronts and the things that matter to people and to try and save and protect as much as we can in these really awful conditions.”

Commissioner Fitzsimmons says firefighters are in it for the long haul with “the only meaningful prospect for rain around the end of January, early February”.

“There’s going to be lots of time, lots of sacrifice still to be made… and there’ll be plenty of Christmas lunch tables that are not going to have firefighters sitting there with those that matter most because they’re still going to be out there making a difference”

Click PLAY below to hear the latest update with the RFS Commissioner

A thick smoke haze has again settled over Sydney, with serious health warnings issued.

Some schools are advising parents that students will be kept inside at recess and lunch to reduce exposure.

The haze is forecast to ease slightly as temperatures rise towards a top of 42 degrees in parts of the city.

Here it is in Springfield near Gosford. https://t.co/9nkG5IgvMo pic.twitter.com/U5GeYzVPXc

— Emily O’Brien (@EmilyC_OBrien) December 9, 2019

Feature image: Facebook/Chris Rodney