THE NSW Rural Fire Service has called for residents to be careful when they do hazard reduction burns, after a number of fires have got out of hand across the state this month.
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said over the past fortnight, the organisation had been called to 142 fires that had escaped or were being conducted illegally.
“Given the dry and windy conditions are forecast to continue over many parts of the state for the next few days, it is vital that landholders only light up when it is safe to do so,” he said.
“We have also received many reports about people lighting up without providing proper notifications and carelessly allowing burns to escape.”
Mr Fitzsimmons said a lack of rain across the state in recent times had created good conditions for fires to get out of hand quickly.
“The dryness of the landscape and the lack of rain is worrying, especially when you take into account the number of hazard reduction burns that had to be postponed during the past two years due to unfavourable weather conditions,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“With the Bush Fire Danger Period fast approaching, beginning on 1 August in some areas in the state’s north, I encourage everyone to start preparing their property now, including checking and maintaining your firefighting equipment, and to make or update your bush fire survival plan.”
Information about hazard reduction burning and required notifications is available on the NSW RFS website at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/BFDP.