Unprecedented Fire Warning

TEXT messages and phone calls have been sent to residents in the Greater Hunter fire area warning of catastrophic fire danger.

Tim Butcher from the Liverpool Range Fire Service explained it is rare to issue a catastrophic fire danger and it is the first time in New South Wales it has been issued over such a large area.

Mobile phones in the Greater Hunter were sent a text message warning of the fire danger.

“It is referring to the fire conditions for tomorrow and they are the worst conditions possible that we can face in the Greater Hunter area and any fire that gets going could spread quickly, be difficult to control, if not impossible to control,” said Mr Butcher.

“The idea is that we want to warn people about the potential for fires and get them to reconsider going to fire prone areas such as not going into bushland to camp, don’t do day trips into the bush or fire prone areas,” he said.

“Have your bushfire survival plan ready, if you are on a property which is fire prone consider going to town and staying with friends overnight,” he said.

“The last time we had a catastrophic warning was in 2013 and it was for a small area, a catastrophic rating over this area is unprecedented and people need to be aware our resources for fire response could be very stretched and our response times for fires could be difficult, so we are warning people to take all precautions and leave fire prone areas,” Tim Butcher said.

The text message was sent to all mobile phones in the Greater Hunter area and automatic messages to landlines: “Dangerous fire weather across NSW. Catastrophic fire danger forecast in some areas. Avoid bush fire prone areas. Info: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or 1800 679 737.”

Related story:

• Editorial: Catastrophic Fire Concerns.