Current RFS Incidents
Live Statewide Updates
Stay up to date with real-time NSW Rural Fire Service activity across the state. This page provides a continuously updating feed of RFS incidents, including bushfires, grass fires, structure fires, HAZMAT responses, storm damage, rescues and support tasks.
Use this feed to understand where resources are being deployed, how incidents are developing, and what types of operations are occurring across New South Wales.
Live NSW RFS Incidents
About the NSW RFS Incident Feed
The NSW Rural Fire Service manages a large number of incidents each day across diverse landscapes — from remote bushland to major metropolitan areas. This feed provides an overview of the operational activity detected in real time, giving scanner listeners and emergency watchers a clearer picture of what is happening across the state.
Incidents may involve:
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Bushfires and grassfires
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Structure and vehicle fires
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Hazard reductions and controlled burns
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HAZMAT and environmental responses
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Storm-related operations
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Rescues or support to other agencies
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Standby and district taskings
Not all incidents will appear, and some may be updated or reclassified as new information becomes available.
Understanding Incident Categories
NSW RFS uses a consistent incident structure and warning system to describe fire behaviour and community risk. While not all incidents in this feed are associated with public alerts, the following classifications are common:
Advice
A fire is burning in the area but poses no immediate threat. Stay aware.
Watch and Act
Conditions may change quickly. Be ready to act if required.
Emergency Warning
The highest alert level. A fire is impacting homes or communities and requires immediate action.
Fireground Status
Used during firefighting operations after the main threat has passed. Includes mop-up, patrol and containment activities.
The feed may also include support tasks (e.g. storm damage, flood response), which follow different operational structures.
How Incident Data Is Sourced
The incident feed collects information from publicly available NSW RFS data and internal operational summaries. Details may include:
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Location or district
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Incident type
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Time of update
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Resources responding
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Current status
Some incidents may appear before they are fully confirmed, and others may be removed or updated as new information becomes available.
This website does not generate or modify incident data — it presents what is publicly visible at the time.
How to Interpret NSW RFS Activity
If you are new to RFS incident tracking, the following tips may help:
1. Look at trends, not just single incidents
A burst of new incidents may occur during storms, lightning activity, or days of elevated fire danger.
2. Understand that early details can be limited
Initial reports often contain minimal information until ground crews confirm the situation.
3. Use region-level context
Incident density varies by region. Combining this feed with scanner radio or pager information can give a deeper view.
4. Be mindful of resource patterns
Multiple tankers deployed quickly may indicate escalating fire conditions or structural involvement.
5. Incident visibility ≠ public danger
Most incidents have no community impact. Always rely on official warnings for safety decisions.
When to Use Official Sources
This page is intended for awareness and educational use only.
For real emergency information or safety instructions, always refer to:
- Hazards Near Me NSW
- NSW RFS official social media and website
- Emergency Alert messages
- Local news and ABC Emergency broadcasts
Never rely solely on scanner information or this feed for evacuation decisions.
Region-Level Incident Monitoring
To better understand what’s occurring across NSW, you can also explore activity by region:
- Sydney Basin
- Hunter
- Illawarra Shoalhaven
- Northern Tablelands
- Southern Tablelands
- Riverina
- Mid North Coast
- Far North Coast
- South Western
- North Western
Each region behaves differently depending on terrain, weather conditions and seasonal workloads.
Disclaimer
RFS Scanner Online is an independent public information resource and is not affiliated with the NSW Rural Fire Service or any NSW Government agency. Incident information may be delayed, incomplete or subject to change. Always follow official warnings for real-time safety advice.