NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Mid Coast district manager, Superintendent Kam Baker has warned residents not to become complacent coming into this bushfire season thinking they won't see fire activity to the scale of 2019-20.
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Once again, the official start to the bushfire danger period (BFDP) has been brought forward, officially beginning next Tuesday, September 1 for both the MidCoast and Port Macquarie Hastings local government areas (LGA)
Traditionally the official start of the danger period is October 1.
"While an early fire season is not unusual in these areas, increased grass growth due to recent rain could prove problematic over coming weeks and months," he said.
Bush and grass fires can strike at any time and it is vitally important to be prepared.
- Kam Baker
During the Bush Fire Danger Period, landowners and managers are required to obtain a fire permit from their local fire control centre before lighting any fires, including hazard reduction burns.
"Last season was unprecedented, in terms of area burnt, lives lost and homes destroyed.
"Bush and grass fires can strike at any time and it is vitally important to be prepared."
He said this meant undertaking simple tasks such as cleaning gutters, removing combustibles from properties, ensuring hoses can reach all corners of a property and completing or updating a bushfire survival plan to ensure residents know what to do in the event of a bushfire.
"I encourage households to update their bush fire survival plan and make sure the whole family knows what to do when faced with a fire.
"It could save your lives. Ask yourself, when you will go, what you will take and where will you go."
Information about hazard reduction burning, required notifications and obtaining fire permits is available on the NSW RFS Bush Fire Danger Period and Fire Permits website.
On days of very high fire danger and above fire permits are automatically suspended.
