As the mop-up from last summer's devastating bushfires across the Mid Coast continues, and regrowth on fire grounds appears, those dead trees on the ridges at Hillville and Koorainghat, and along the highway to our south, are a reminder that we still live with fire danger.
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And that has been made more real by today's (Wednesday) announcement that the official bushfire danger period start date is being brought forward to September 1 for both the Mid Coast and Port Macquarie Hastings local government areas.
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.
"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," Supt Baker said.
Traditionally the official start of the danger period is October 1.
Bush and grass fires can strike at any time and it is vitally important to be prepared.
- Kam Baker
During the bushfire 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," Supt Baker said.
"Bush and grass fires can strike at any time and it is vitally important to be prepared."
Supt Baker 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 bushfire survival plan and make sure the whole family knows what to do when faced with a fire," Supt Baker said.
"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.
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