The NSW Rural Fire Service announced last week the number of council areas bringing forward the start of their bushfire season was set to double due to the state’s above-average fire risks in the coming months.
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But Young will not be among them.
NSW RFS Commiss-ioner Shane Fitzsimmons said “up to another 20” councils will bring forward their bushfire season to today, adding to another 22 local government areas that had already started their bushfire season on August 1.
The bushfire season traditionally starts on October 1.
But RFS South West Slopes Zone manager Andrew Dillon said the bushfire season for Young will begin on October 1 as it had done in the past.
“Because there’s no need [to bring the date forward] given the current conditions [in the zone],” he said.
While the NSW office is expecting an “above normal” fire season for the state this year despite the recent rain, Mr Dillon said they’re predicting a “normal” season for Young.
However, he added, it all “really depended on the rainfall over spring”.
“They’re predicting a less than average rainfall,” Mr Dillon said.
“Which [may result in] high fuel loads and high risks.”
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts more likely warmer temperatures for the next three months, with a greater than 65 per cent chance of exceeding the median maximum temperatures.
The median (middle) maximum temperature is forecast to be 17.9 degrees in September, 21.7 in October and 29.9 in November.
The highest maximum temperatures Young has ever seen was 27.7 degrees in September, recorded on September 19, 2011.
October’s record sits at 34.2 degrees, recorded on October 14 in 2006 and 41.1 degrees in November, recorded on November 26, 1997.
Young RFS volunteers and staff have been busy preparing for the season ahead, attending several workshops, training sessions and courses over winter.
“We’ve had pre-season fire management workshops with senior volunteers and staff have attended intensive fire incident management workshops over winter to better prepare them for fire season,” Mr Dillon said.
“We’ve also had a lot of volunteers training and attending various courses.”
Some brigades in the zone have also received new fire tankers.
Mr Dillon said the community can help prepare for fire season by making sure they keep their grass cut short, especially for those living on the edge of town.
“[They] need to make sure they have fire breaks or keep their grass low, particularly when the grass dries out and particularly coming out of spring.”
He also encouraged residents to remove timber piles and make sure they’ve downloaded a copy of the RFS Bushfire Survival Plan.
“This plan has tips on ensuring your property is prepared,” Mr Dillon said.
