(CNN) A state of emergency has been declared in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) for the second time in two months, as firefighters battle nearly 100 active fires amid a record-breaking heat wave.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, head of the local government, declared the state of emergency on Thursday morning, as authorities warned of severe weather conditions that are expected to continue worsening.

The fires have been burning for two months now, exacerbated by rising temperatures. Wednesday broke the record for the hottest day nationwide, with the average maximum temperature hitting 41.9 degrees Celsius (107.4 Fahrenheit). That beat the previous record of 40.9 Celsius (105.6 Fahrenheit) -- which had been set just the day before.

The emergency declaration grants "extraordinary powers" to the commissioner of the Rural Fire Service, according to the state government website . These include the power to allocate government resources, direct government agencies in taking action, close roads and evacuate residents.

A state of emergency was declared in New South Wales on December 19.

"These declarations are not taken lightly," said Berejiklian in a news release Thursday. "It will ensure once again that our state is best placed to respond to the predicted fire conditions."

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