"It's important for us to make sure that everyone is switched on and tuned in as we confront this situation we're likely to have [on Saturday]," he said.

"As a community we will survive - we will support one another, we're Australians, and that's what being Australian is all about.

"But we are confronting not a local situation; we are confronting a national crisis and the situation doesn't appear to be getting any better."

Rural Fire Service (RFS) branches at Austinmer and Dapto held briefings for residents on Friday morning, advising on preparing homes and bushfire survival plans for their communities.

Cr Bradbery said Wollongong had been providing assistance to local councils hit by fires to the south.

"I'm very conscious of the fact that [on Saturday] the dynamics of the fires at present indicate that we are vulnerable as well," he said.

"The lead agency is the RFS. Please keep across what the information is coming from them as to when to evacuate ... if the dynamic should end up that we're in an emergency.

"Everyone should have their own personal survival plan in place. Don't rely on emergency services - they are stretched to the max - and it's very important that our citizens are prepared and clearly identify where they go and what to take with them.

"Follow the directions of the RFS."

South Coast Labor Council secretary Arthur Rorris said the SCLC would set up a community service line on 42292888 which would be operating from 8am Monday for advice on fire-related work issues.

"People should ring their union in the first instance - there is no one set of rules that apply here or one set of conditions," he said.

"What we are asking though is for employers to show a bit of that spirit that the Prime Minister talks about, and keep paying employees who might not be able to drive to work because of the road closures.

"If that is too much of an impost on the employers, they should also speak to the Prime Minister and talk about an assistance package."