BE PREPARED FOR BUSHFIRES AND STORMS THIS SUMMER
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC), NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Fire and Rescue and the NSW State Emergency Services (SES) are uniting together to encourage the community to prepare their properties for the upcoming summer period.
The forecast for drier than normal conditions over summer and an increased fuel load of long dry grasses have emergency services concerned about the potential risk of bushfires and storms in the upcoming months.
“We want the community to be proactive and prepare their properties now for the summer months ahead. Making time to get prepared can help protect your property but ultimately help emergency services respond in the event of a bushfire,” NSW Fire and Rescue Zone Commander Superintendent Anthony Hojel said.
The community are asked to clean gutters removing leaves and debris, trim branches from trees especially those nearby houses, store combustible materials such as wood piles away from homes and keep grass around the property mowed. Make sure hoses can reach all around your house and that emergency vehicles can access your property through gates.
Preparing a Bushfire Survival Plan and ensuring everyone in the house knows what the plan involves is a key action residents should undertake now. It won’t take long and will ensure your family know what to do in the event on an emergency.
“Local residents should have a Bushfire Survival Plan prepared so you know what to do in the event of a bushfire emergency. This includes when you would leave your property and a list of items to take when leaving, as you may not be thinking clearly at the time,” NSW RFS District Manager, Superintendent David Millsteed said.
“Staying up-to-date with information in the time of an emergency is critical and the Hazards Near Me app is a vital tool for the community to see the latest advice. Simply download the Hazards near me app from the app store,” Mr Millsteed said.
October to March is also often when the region experiences an increase chance of storms with strong winds and heavy rain. These weather conditions can bring flash flooding and damage to homes and properties.
“Being prepared now by cleaning up around your property and securing loose items such as trampolines and outdoor furniture around the backyard or balcony can help prevent storm damage,” NSW SES Western Zone Commander Josh Clark said.
“Preparing an emergency kit with essentials such as medications, important documents, family photos and pet food is recommended,” Mr Clark said.
DRC currently has teams across the Local Government Area slashing grass along priority road corridors to reduce the potential fuel load. This program has already commenced and will be ongoing to ensure the over 1200km of roads identified have the grass slashed on either side of the road.
For resources and information about preparing for bushfires or storms visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and www.ses.nsw.gov.au. Alternatively visit your local Rural Fire Service or Fire and Rescue Station and speak to the team.
Last Edited: 21 Sep 2023