Firies urging us to ‘Get Ready’ for bush fires

Photo: Volunteers; Tom Miller, Mark Gray, Jo Pryke, (Wookie) Lachie Davis and Mark Smee.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is calling on Orange (Canobolas Zone) residents to join with NSW RFS volunteer firefighters and prepare for the coming bush fire season on ‘Get Ready Weekend’.

Canobolas Zone residents can get involved in the fun family event being held at Peisley Street IGA, it includes kids’ activities, firefighting displays, opportunities to get aboard a fire truck, and see some of their specialist equipment. Most importantly they can also get some information and advice on preparing their properties for the bush fire season.

NSW RFS Zone Manager, Superintendent David Hoadley said all residents in the Canobolas Zone Area need to be prepared for the bush fire season.

“It has already been a busy start to the fire season with more than 2000 bush and grass fires across NSW during August.”

“With all of NSW in drought and a forecast of ongoing warm and dry conditions, there is the potential for a long and protracted bush fire season.”

“NSW RFS members have been busy preparing by undertaking hazard reduction burns, maintaining firefighting equipment and undergoing training.

“Get Ready Weekend is a chance for all residents to do their bit to prepare and protect their family and property in the event of a fire."

Volunteer firefighters including, Chainsaw unit member, Mark Smee will be there on the day, talking about simple things you can do to reduce your bushfire risk. “In our particular unit we have a consideration of safety that a lot of people don’t understand, effectively we can analyse and diagnose trees and triage what we need to do, whether to then go in and cut them down.”

“Part of what we do is working out how to save the tree, that’s essentially what we would do first, we aren’t all two strokes and woodchips, the reason the group is selected is because they have to have the right attitude overall, our first concern is safety for everybody.”

Preparing for bush fires is easier than people may think. It could be as simple as talking to your family about what you would do if a bush fire was to start near them.

(This weekend) September 29 from 10.30am to 3pm, it is the ideal opportunity to take that action, take the time to meet the wonderful team who are protecting our area.