This message is part of the NSW Rural Fire Service’s (NSW RFS) Get Ready Weekend (18-19 October), which urges family, friends and neighbours to prepare their properties and discuss plans for facing a bush fire in the coming months.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres is warning people against becoming complacent about the danger of bush fire, following recent heavy rain across NSW.
“This bush fire season is shaping up to be a challenging one, with warmer than normal conditions forecast and above average fire activity expected,” Ayres said.
“It won’t be too long until hot weather returns and there is an urgent need for people to prepare for bush fire now, not when a fire is at the front door.
You can dramatically improve your chances of surviving a bush fire and saving your home by doing a few simple things such as:
cleaning out your gutters
trimming overhanging branches
Completing a Bush Fire Survival Plan.
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that research showed more than one quarter of residents affected by bush fire last October did not have a Bush Fire Survival Plan.
“Of those who did have a plan, less than 10% had actually written it down,” Fitzsimmons said.
NSW RFS) volunteers are already undertaking hazard reduction burns, preparing emergency response plans, maintaining firefighting equipment and undergoing training.
Bunnings stores located near bush fire prone areas are supporting the Get Ready Weekend by providing customers with a bush fire preparation checklist.
