Warning after sign of what’s to come

Despite bushfire season officially starting on Tuesday, NSW firefighters have already been called to 1600 bush and grass blazes since July 1.

In preparations for a forecast hotter-than-normal summer, the state government has funded an extra 100 staff members to do hazard reduction burns across the state.

Consecutive wet years has led to massive vegetation and grassland growth, particularly west of the Great Diving Ranges.

Some areas have already entered a “bushfire danger period”, but the statutory bushfire season runs from October 1 to March 31, 2025.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said households needed to discuss their bushfire survival plan and download the Hazards Near Me app.

“We have already seen dangerous fire conditions in NSW, with recent hot, dry and windy weather rapidly drying out bush and grassland areas, increasing the fire risk,” he said.

“I thank all our (Rural Fire Service) volunteers and emergency service personnel for their work to protect communities across the state and encourage residents and landowners to do their part to prepare themselves, their families and properties.”

During the statutory fire season, all burning activities require a free fire permit. Those areas in a bushfire danger period are already subject to the permit requirement.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife is slashing and mowing high-risk areas next to houses and other property and clearing fire trails for firefighters in the event of a blaze.

Rural Fire Service commissioner Rob Rogers said consecutive years of wet weather had fuelled growth of vegetation like grass lands, particularly west of the Great Dividing Range.

“Grass fires can be especially dangerous because they start quickly and spread rapidly, destroying homes and stock,” he said.

“Our firefighters are out on the ground doing everything they can to mitigate the risk of fire, but preparation is a shared responsibility, and we need property owners to do their part, too.

“There can never be a fire truck outside every home, so people need to have a plan in place if threatened by fire. Make sure your whole family knows whether you will stay and defend your home or will leave early – and if so, where you will go.”

People planning to travel, especially during holiday periods, should be aware of the risk of fast-moving grass fires, check the weather forecast and fire danger ratings for that area and have a plan to leave should a grass or bushfire take hold.