Where there’s smoke, there’s … fire bans
The smoke haze over Ballina earlier this week was the result of widespread fire outbreaks in the surrounding region, prompting the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to suspend fire permits in the Far North Coast, Northern Rivers, Clarence Valley and Northern Tablelands areas due to the ongoing dry conditions
“Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Forests NSW crews have responded to literally hundreds of fires in the northern part of the State over the past month.Crews have worked tirelessly day and night to establish control lines around these fires,” said Region North Manager Chief Superintendent John Parnaby.
“Current conditions are far too dry for us to issue permits to conduct land clearance burns and all permits have now been suspended until weather conditions ease.
“The cause and origin of dozens of fires on the North Coast are being investigated. It is suspected that a large proportion of these fires have escaped from private burnoffs, where landowners have underestimated the potential for the fire to spread into adjoining properties.”
“Last week a bushfire emergency was declared for the Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Lismore areas as a number of large fires threatened properties.
“Fire crews from Clarence Valley, Mid North Coast and Lower North Coast were called in to assist local firefighters in the Kyogle, Lismore and Richmond Valley areas.
“Local landowners have been very supportive of the many firefighters working on these fires and most seem to understand the need to suspend permits until conditions improve.
“People living in bushfire prone areas should prepare their properties in case a fire does impact onto their property and clean their gutters, remove all combustible material and have firefighting equipment ready for immediate use.”
For more information on the current fire situation visit http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or phone 1800 679 737.
