DESPITE avoiding serious fires so far, Great Lakes fire brigades have warned that could change at any moment with the predicted hot weather.
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“Touch wood, we’ve been pretty lucky,” Pacific Palms Rural Fire Brigade Deputy Captain Russell Gardner said.
“We are expecting to have a hot season and things can change any time.”
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Deputy Captain Gardner said the brigade was doing extensive training so they would be up to scratch when the main season started.
He said they were also running an extensive community education program.
“People need to keep their gutter clean, keep rubbish away from their home and if you want to do any burning off get a permit so everyone is aware of what you are doing.”
Deputy Captain Gardner said the most important thing to remember was having a fire safety plan.
“We are very lucky not to have had a fire in the Palms area. But that can change in an instance, and if you don’t have a fire plan you could get caught out.”
Coomba Park Captain Bob Manners said with the wet weather grass fires would not be an issue until Christmas.
“However, not much will take to dry out the bush because most of the fuel is off the,” Captain Manners said.
“Bush fires will be an issue if the temperature and wind come up.”
RFS units in the region are preparing a strike force to be ready at short notice because of the total fire ban in Sydney and the Hunter region.
