Today, October 1 marks the official start of the 2024-25 bushfire season and despite good falls of rain over the past week, fire fighters say property owners in the Illawarra shouldn’t take their eye off the ball.
Last week Wollongong received nearly 40mm of welcome rain, and while this may have taken away any immediate risk of major bushfires, the start of summer is still two months away and “anything is possible” in the warmer months ahead, says a spokesman for the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
That’s the warning from Craig Robertson, Group Captain of Illawarra/Sutherland, NSW RFS, who urged communities to prepare and adhere to the advice of local fire authorities for the remainder of spring and into summer.
As a volunteer, one of Craig’s main roles is community education and he was heartened by the good turnouts at the recent ‘Get Ready’ open days hosted by the RFS across the region in the past fortnight.
Prepare your Bushfire Survival Plan
“Our big message, especially for those living close to the bush is to take the time to do your bushfire survival plans, prepare your properties and ensure you have the Hazards Near Me app, which will help you not only in times of bushfires, but also for floods and other emergency situations.”
How to prepare your home
The RFS bushfire survival plan lists five key actions to prepare your home and make it safer:
- Trim overhanging trees and shrubs. This can stop the fire spreading to your home.
- Mow grass and remove the cuttings. Have a cleared area around your home.
- Remove material that can burn from around your home (e.g. door mats, wood piles, mulch, leaves, paint and outdoor furniture).
- Clear and remove all the debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your home. Burning embers can set your home on fire.
- Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that will reach all around your home. Make sure you’ve got a reliable source of water.
Plan ahead
Craig Robertson is encouraging everyone to have a plan and to talk as a household or a family about what you’ll do if a bushfire threatens. The wrong time to start your planning and preparation is when your community and home is under imminent threat.
“Think about what you’re going to do and always have a bag prepared if you have to evacuate,” he said.
Craig says while the immediate outlook for the region might be for no serious bushfire risk “it’s Murphy’s Law that things can change and change quickly if we get a period of hot, dry, windy weather. The bush can dry out very quickly and with no major fires for most of the Illawarra for many years the fuel load has steadily increased.”
He said while we’re now in the official bushfire season “that doesn’t mean we can’t burn off, and we will take every window of opportunity to do more prescribed burns if the weather conditions are favourable.”
A bushfire last month on the top of the escarpment at Maddens Plains was a sign that fires can happen when you least expect them and three total fire bans during September also showed how a burst of hot, dry weather can create problems early in the season.
New Fire Danger Ratings
The RFS is taking every opportunity to remind us that the Fire Danger Ratings have changed and are simpler and easier to understand. The Fire Danger Ratings give an indication of the consequences of a fire if a fire was to start, and knowing the meaning of the Fire Danger Rating may save your life. The higher the Fire Danger Rating, the more dangerous a fire is likely to be.
- Moderate rating: Means plan and prepare and most fires in these conditions can be controlled.
- High rating: Means be ready to act; there’s a heightened risk and be alert for fires in your area.
- Extreme rating: Means take action now to protect your life and property. Fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous.
- Catastrophic rating: Means for your survival leave bushfire risk areas. If a fire takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
The RFS says your safety and survival may depend on the decision you make, even before there is a fire. You can monitor the Fire Danger Ratings daily at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fdr
