Almost a third of all NSW local councils have entered their bushfire danger period as weather authorities brace for a warm and dry spring and summer.
Of the 32 councils beginning the danger period on Friday, 11 government areas are doing so a full month earlier than usual because of the dry conditions.
People must take care when using fire outdoors due to heightened bushfire risks and can only do so once authorities issue them a fire permit.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers said firefighters had responded to more than 2000 bush and grass fires since August, compared to 600 in the same period last year.
“Wet weather over the last three years has caused prolific growth, and as we move out of this incredibly wet period the bush fire risk is returning to NSW,” Mr Rogers said.
“Fire activity in recent weeks has increased as the landscape dries, forests and grasslands become more susceptible to fires.”
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Karl Braganza is predicting unusually warm days for almost all areas throughout spring, after Australia had its warmest winter on record in 2023.
“This spring, the forecast shows most areas have a high chance of below average rainfall, and many areas have an increased chance of an unusually dry spring,” he said.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib urged people to begin planning for the upcoming bushfire season as the warm and dry conditions put landowners on heightened alert.
“As the weather starts to heat up, it’s time to take simple steps like reducing vegetation around properties and cleaning gutters to reduce the amount of fuel,” he said.
Councils have been placed on notice all along the NSW coast, including Muswellbrook, Singleton, the Clarence Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Upper Hunter and Bega Valley.
Those in northern NSW will enter their bushfire danger period a month earlier than usual including Tamworth, Bogan, Coonamble, Walgett, Warren, Moree, Gwydir, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle and Midwestern.
These local government areas join six others who have already entered the danger period at the start of August.
-AAP
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