As flowers bloom and magpies swoop on this first day of Spring, the hotter weather also marks the official start of the bushfire danger season. 

With it comes a reminder from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) that the Bush Fire Danger Period now applies to the Lismore area.

Goolmangar-based RFS group officer Robert Graham remembers well the 2019 bushfires and asks people to follow protocols if they need to light any fires.

“As of September 1, people can’t just light a fire,” he said. “Land owners and occupiers must apply for a fire permit to light fires - including hazard reduction fires," he said.

“You contact your local Fire Brigade to obtain your free fire permit and follow its conditions."

He said you should also contact the fire control officer in Casino to let them know about the fire - and also let your neighbours know - preferably 24 hours before.

“If you have anything burning that will be after midnight tonight you must get a fire permit to continue that activity," he said.

Goolmangar-based RFS group officer Robert Graham.

Grass fires

“We are trying hard to educate the public as to the requirements – there have been a number of grass fires recently that we have been called out to.

Robert coordinates 11 local brigades in Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley LGAs.

He said there are 470 volunteer RFS members in the region, plus 280 new additional firefighters trained to fight fires – and they have already been called out to a number of small fires.

“A lot of fires in the past few weeks are false alarms and it’s a waste of time for an RFS member to leave their farm to attend the incident,” he said.

“People need to understand that any fire that is reported to 000 will set off the pager of an RFS volunteer– and we have an obligation to respond.

What does 2021 fire season hold?

Mr Graham said he expected the upcoming fire season won’t be an intense as the 2019-2020 fire season, because that was the result of a 20 year build up and a long dry period.

“But, we don’t know what’s going to happen this spring. If it’s drier that the predicted wetter than average season, it could be a problem.

“Even if you’ve been using fire for many years, safe burning is your responsibility. 

“Heavy fines apply for the unsafe use of fire, or if your fire escapes."

For more information, visit http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/BFDP

Read more about Robert Graham: SUNDAY PROFILE: Goolmangar firefighter Robert Graham awarded Australia Day