This week, smoke hazes have been blowing in from the west as the Rural Fire Service (RFS) prepares for another hot season. We checked in with the RFS to find out what to expect this summer.

Daniel Ainsworth, District Manager for Rural Fire Services in the Northern Rivers, explains what they are preparing for.

“We're looking at an average season, not like a 2019 season at this stage. 

“An average season is where we'll get the occasional rain come across, and then we'll have our dry periods for two or three weeks. There is nothing indicating, at this stage, it is going to be an above-average year.”

There is a 5-year plan to manage sites across the Northern Rivers, and the RFS burn-off at Evans Head this week was a part of that. Every National Park has it’s own bushfire assessment done and monitored.

“Every individual National Park has a Plan of Management that identifies the right time to do hazard reduction burning. Each Plan identifies if, when and where is the best time to do a burn - when conditions are right.

“National Parks have done a large hazard reduction burn this week, around Evans Head. People around the Lismore area would have seen the smoke when the wind changed. 

(At the Evans Head Burn, when the wind changed this map was posted to alert people of the predicted direction the smoke would take - directly over Lismore)

“That burn has been planned for a long time and required specific conditions because there are a lot of environmental aspects to consider - endangered species and Aboriginal heritage are a couple of the larger things we prepare for. 

“We make sure that we protect them when the burn is done and there is habitat for the parrots and other animals once the burn goes through.”

Ground parrots, among other birds, are an endangered species. Regular burns allow their habitat to revive; it can’t be destroyed all at once, so care is taken to protect the birds and their nests.

“Hazard reduction provides a buffer for towns. So for Evans in particular, that burn is a really good one to provide an area of reduced fuel, and in the event, a wildfire comes through.”

The RFS has also been concerned about the fuel loads around privately owned land.

“The last few years, the weather conditions haven't really allowed people to do much burning off, so we're basically helping landowners get it done. 

“There is a 40-metre buffer needed around their assets, for example, around their homes.

(The Hazards Near Me app will let you know about fires in your area if you set up a Watchzone)

“The last week or so, we've had a small window of opportunity and done a little bit of hazard reduction for landowners in the Lismore area.

“There's a lot of preparation that goes into it, making sure we meet all the environmental conditions and have control lines in place, and people are notified as part of the plan, ready for when they do that burn. 

If you are an older person or have a disability, the RFS have a service where you can request help for free - The Assist Infirm, Disabled and Elderly Residents or Aider.

“We actually have crews that will go out and clear around their house as a once-off if they live in bushfire prone land, if they fit into that category. 

“Aider asks for the details of someone in a bushfire-prone area. There's also some factsheets there that tell you what you do. 

The RFS is also aware of people wanting to do their own burn-offs. There are different protocols to follow before the start of the hot season in September and after September 1st.

These involve any open fire (that isn’t a cooking fire).

“The first thing is to make sure you give your adjoining neighbours 24 hours' notice. Give them the courtesy to know there will be smoke in the area that's supposed to be there. You may talk to them, or pop a letter in the mailbox, or poster or something like that. 

“The next step is to let the Rural Fire Service know. So you can do that by ringing us up, or do it online. It's nice and easy. Now you can go onto the Rural Fire Service website again, and just “Notify My Burn”. That covers you for 21 days. So we know what to expect and where the fires are. 

“From the first of September, you'll actually need a fire permit as well. It's not restrictive. All it's doing is making you go through the process of getting a piece of paper for that fire and make sure the conditions are right and things like that.”

Getting your home and family prepared for the fire season requires some vigilance and a bit of cleaning up. The RFS provides a questionnaire to help you be as prepared as you can be.

“The first thing to do, if you live in bushfire-prone land, is to have a plan to leave. It also includes making sure your property is clear and ready for a bushfire. Clean gutters and leaf litter. Make sure the bushes are trimmed around the house so there's nothing that can easily catch fire in the event of a bushfire. 

“The fire danger ratings will come in September, so become familiar with them.

“And then download the Hazards Near Me app and set up an alert area for where you live. Whenever a hazard comes up, an alert will be sent to you via a push notification that something's happening.

Don’t forget to wave to Fireys when you see one. They are heroic people who do their best to help us in pretty confronting situations. Thank you, Fireys!

Prepare your bushfire plan via the questionnaire here.

Tips to plan and prepare

Aider website for assistance to clear your home.

At the RFS website, or Facebook page will tell you about any events happening

Hazards Near Me App - one of the four apps the government is recommending that you have to monitor emergencies. Here is some more information on the apps.

Inform the RFS that you want to do a burn off here.