A potentially dangerous bush and grass fire season is on our doorstep, and the NSW Government is urging communities in the Heathcote electorate to consider planning and preparing for what might lie ahead.

The declaration of an El Nino climate driver has confirmed predictions of a hot and dry summer, while substantial vegetation growth over successive wet years has heightened the risk of grass fires.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has already worked on containing several bush and grass fires across the state.

The bushfire season officially commenced on 1 October 2023 when most local government areas entered Bush Fire Danger Period. The RFS and other government agencies have worked hard to mitigate risks, particularly through hazard reduction burns.

The NSW Government invested $10 million in the recruitment of crews to bolster hazard reduction efforts. Since 1 July 2023, hazard reduction has been conducted across more than 40,000 hectares and will provide protection to thousands of homes.

The NSW Government has invested $9 million in a new Chinook helicopter, the first of its kind to be based in Australia. With the capacity to carry up to 10,000 litres of water or retardant this summer, the Chinook will increase the RFS’s aerial firefighting capabilities and will lessen our reliance on aircraft borrowed from overseas.

Experts do not expect this bushfire season to be as dangerous as the 2019/20 Black Summer fires, which came off the back of a four-year drought. However, communities should not be complacent and there are several measures people can take to prepare, including simple steps around your home:

• Trim overhanging trees and shrubs.
• Mow grass and remove the cuttings. Have a cleared area around your home.
• Remove material that can burn around your home, such as door mats, wood piles and mulch.
• Clear and remove all debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your home.
• Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that will reach all around your home.

Families and individuals need to be aware of the fire risk in their area. There are several ways of accessing information, including the Hazards Near Me NSW app, which replaces the Fires Near Me app and can be downloaded from the iOS and Android app stores. Information is also available from the RFS website at rfs.nsw.gov.au, the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 670 737, RFS social media updates, and information on the radio and television.

People should know how to interpret the Fire Danger Rating system, which has undergone changes in the past year. The new rating system has been simplified and uses four categories: Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic. Find out what the categories mean at rfs.nsw.gov.au.

Families and individuals should have a bushfire survival plan, particularly if they live near bush or grass land. At a minimum, members of households should discuss whether to leave early or stay in the event of a fire in their area. The RFS advises leaving early is the safest option.

Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“People need to be aware of the bush and grass fire risk we face this summer, but we don’t want them to be alarmed.

“The prospect of hot and dry conditions has put us on higher alert than previous years but there are measures people can and should take to be prepared.

“It really can start with a conversation with your household about what you will do if there is a fire in your area.

“People bordering bush and grass land need to be on alert, but embers can travel a long distance, so please don’t be complacent if you live closer to the centre of town.”

Quotes to be attributed to Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart:

“We are asking people to be aware this bushfire season and if there is a total fire ban in your area, don’t start a fire out in the open.

“That means no BBQs using wood or charcoal, and it means you shouldn’t conduct activities like welding or grinding out in the open.

“The Heathcote electorate is surrounded by national parks and bushland which are all particularly susceptible to bushfires.

“That is why I urge everyone to show extra caution regarding bushfire dangers.

“Do an audit of your property: are the gutters clear, are there overhanging trees, are there flammable objects around your property like wood chips and blocks, is there a hose you can use that reaches around your property?

“The RFS website also contains information communities can rely on, such as the fire risks in their area, what to do in a fire emergency, how to prepare your property, and even what to do in the event you stay to defend your property in a fire.”