Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from Gunnedah, Mullaley, Willow Tree and Currabubula started preparing for a “potentially busy” fire season with a hazard reduction burn on the edge of Gunnedah yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The crews worked on bushland at the base of Mount Porcupine, behind a residential area on Eveleigh Road.
NSW RFS district officer Graham Brown said now was the time for the community to start preparing.
“We are doing a number of targeted burns which will benefit property owners in the area. This one aims to stop fires from getting up into the hills,” Mr Brown said.
“Everyone should be preparing for summer now and ensure they have an adequate bushfire survival plan in place.”
He said recent rain had resulted in large areas of green grass around the district which didn’t present an immediate bushfire threat but could lead to a “potentially bad season”.
“We could be looking at a bad season ahead but who knows how much rain we will get between now and then,” Mr Brown said.
The official bushfire danger period began in Gunnedah on September 1.
“From now until the end of the bushfire danger period, people wishing to light a fire in the open will require a permit, which are free and can be obtained from your local fire station or fire control centre,” Mr Brown said. “Anyone caught lighting a fire without a permit will be fined $1100,” he said.