Total Fire Ban Across the Hunter Region

BY MARISSA ALEXIOU

A Total Fire Ban has been put in place across the Greater Hunter Region today as a result of hot and windy conditions.

Areas affected include Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Upper Hunter.

The severe fire conditions prohibit open fires being lit and the suspension of fire permits across the Hunter. Gas and electric barbeques may be used as long as they meet necessary requirements.

NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepard said that breach of the Total Fire Ban conditions will be taken very seriously.

Lighting an open fire today will result in on the spot fines of up to $2200. The fine for tossing a lit cigarette will also double.

Residents are encouraged to be prepared if a fire occurs and follow their Bush Fire Survival Plan. Inspector Ben Shepard said it is important that residents stay updated on fires and the conditions in their local area. 

Residents can use smart-phone apps such as Fires Near Me to stay updated as well as local radio and television stations. 

The community are advised to call Triple 000 if they see fire. Total Fire Ban rules and a map of current Total Fire Ban areas can be found at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. 

Source: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/

End of bush fire season

The Hunter Valley Rural Fire Service is celebrating the end of a hectic bush fire season today

The end of the 2013-2014 season means permits are no longer required to do any burning in the open however residents of Singleton, Branxton, Musswellbrook and Denman still require permits from Fire and Rescue NSW

Super Intendant Paul Jones, from the Hunter Valley RFS says the Hunter Valley has a longer bush fire season than other parts of NSW

"Conditions were drier and we also had a number of lightening storms go trough the area that created fires in remote areas that required substantial effort to contain, so yeah, a bit busier than normal but we expect that in the Hunter Valley it's a very fire prone area."

Super Intendant Jones warns that residents still need to be wary, "they should be using the cooler weather and the more moister weather to make sure that their properties are well prepared, manage their assets protection zones around their assets, do any required burning off that they need to do, the RFS is more than happy to assist with that".