General News
7 October, 2020
Fire season spreads across Tablelands
FIRES have been sporadically popping up around the Tablelands in increased volumes, signalling the beginning of the fire season.
FIRES have been sporadically popping up around the Tablelands in increased volumes, signalling the beginning of the fire season.
Fire services on the Tablelands only recently finished a fire campaign last fortnight where they battled a blaze out near Springmount Raceway that raged for six days before getting under control last Wednesday.
Last week saw two separate fires breaking out on the Tablelands with the Gillies Range fire starting on Thursday and Biboorah starting on Friday.
With the fire season now upon on us Tablelanders must take the appropriate steps to ensure that you are prepared in the case of a fire emergency.
Acting Inspector Western Command, Bradley Fleming said that this year’s fire season has already started and that firefighters have already been battling blazes.
“The wind that we traditionally get which we are experiencing right now with the dryer temperatures and low humidity will dry out the fuel loads,” he said.
“We are by no means out of the woods yet we still have a good month or two of dry period to come.
“Anyone looking to start a fire above 2m squared will require a fire permit regardless if you are in a rural area or an urban-rural area.”
People all across the Tablelands should currently be exercising their fire management and escape plan and ensuring that the areas around your structures are clear of debris and fuel for the fires.
Although this year’s fire season has not been as destructive as last years, people cannot be complacent.
“We are expecting a shorter less intense bushfire season due to the La Nina but that means we will have a longer wet season,” Mr Fleming said.
“People cannot be complacent around the area even with the wet there are still large areas of the Tablelands that may not experience that weather until later on.
“We are experiencing rapidly dry conditions west in areas like Dimbulah where the temperature is rising and humidity is going down.”
