The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is urging locals to be aware of conditions when burning off long grass, rubbish piles and other hazard reductions on properties.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NSW RFS have asked land managers and landholders undertaking hazard reduction carefully consider current weather conditions after firefighters across the state had to be called to contain and extinguish escaped hazard reduction burns during the past week.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said hundreds of firefighters had attended a number of escaped hazard reduction or pile burns in areas across the state.
According to Commissioner Fitzsimmons in the last fortnight NSW RFS crews had been called to at least 142 reported escaped or illegal landowner burns across the state.
“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,” the Commissioner said. “We have also received many reports about people lighting up without providing proper notifications and carelessly allowing burns to escape.”
Landholders who fail to notify firefighters and neighbours face fines of up to $5,500 and/or 12 months jail while escaped fires attract penalties of up to $110,000 and/or five years prison.
“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 I encourage everyone to start preparing their property now, checking and maintaining your firefighting equipment and to make or update your bush fire survival plan.”
According to the NSW RFS website to carry out a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Burn, you may need:
- a Fire Permit and/or an Environmental Approval such as a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate. You must gain this before applying for a Fire Permit.
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.
