All Hands Needed for Fire Season

THE Rural Fire Service are imploring people to volunteer ahead of this year’s fire season, which will start a month early on September 1.

Tim Butcher, from Liverpool Plains Rural Fire Service has said volunteers have spent the last 12 months combating fires and this fire season is of high concern.

“The inherent dryness of the area, the dryness of the fine fuels and as we’ve seen with the fires on the east coast the series of high pressures followed by a fast moving low brings strong north-westerly followed by a south-westerly winds make the chance of fires escaping and becoming out of control more likely,” said Mr Butcher.

“It is a tough start to the year and really the fire season hasn’t stopped for our local firefighters, they have been going flat out for the last twelve months with hardly a break,” he said.

“When the bush fire season starts on the September 1 if you have a fire in the open you have to apply for a permit and the permit is about trying to make sure the fire is safe and we know what to expect,” he said.

“In looking at the managed grazing lands there is not a lot to be burnt if we do get a fire it will race across the top of the grazing lands, of the greatest concern is country you can’t get stock on

“Areas of remote bush, state forest, national parks, gorges, rivers and creek lines that have a build up of fire materials and that will certainly carry a hot, fast moving fire,” he said.

Many local farmers are members of the bush fire service and this year more than ever farmers and the Rural Fire Service need more volunteers.

“The farmers are struggling with the drought and looking after their stock and then with the fires they also have to go out on the truck to fight fires on other people’s properties,” Tim Butcher said.

“There is a job for everyone to help, whether it’s a fire fighter out in the field, or supporting the fire fighters through radio communication, logistics, provision of welfare with catering or supporting aircraft loading it with retardant and gel, there is a job for everyone in the RFS,” he said.

To support the Rural Fire Service this season phone: 02 6746 5800 or direct message the Kingdon Ponds Rural Fire Service on their Facebook page.