NSW residents have beento prepare for a long and warm summer on the first day of the state’s bushfire season.
Parts of the NT, QLD, SA and Victoria have also been warned of an increased risk of fires over the coming months.
The official NSW ‘Danger Period’ runs from October 1 to March 31, 2025, with residents urged to reduce the fire risk surrounding their homes.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said, “We cannot be complacent” this summer.
Danger period
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) marked the start of the state’sseason on Tuesday.
Since July, firefighters have responded to more than 1,600 bush and grass fires across NSW.
For the next five months, residents in almost all NSW councils will need a permit from their local RFS before lighting any fires.
People are urged to clear their gutters at home and get rid of any debris surrounding their properties, like trees and shrubs.
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Prepare and Plan
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers noted “Consecutive years of wet weather have fuelled” vegetation growth, e.g. grasslands
Grass fires are “especially dangerous” because they can ignite and spread rapidly.
Rogers urged residents to stay vigilant: “There can never be a fire truck outside every home, so people need to have a plan in place if threatened by fire.”
Victoria’s fire season also begins this month, on 9 October.
National Outlook
The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) warned of an increased fire danger for large parts of the country this Spring.
It said unusually high temperatures were expected after “widespread above average temperatures” during the warmest August on record.
AFAC CEO Rob Webb has urged Australians to ensure their bushfire plan is up-to-date: “Understand your local risk, know where you will get your information, and talk to your family about what you will do.”
