BUSHFIRE ALERT: NSW RFS Canobolas Zone infrastructure and assets officer inspector Steve Smith.
BUSHFIRE season will start on Monday with property owners to face fines up to $5000 for burning off if they fail to obtain a permit.
Warm weather and excess grass growth is already keeping NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) volunteers busy as they attend out-of-control fires most days.
NSW RFS Canobolas Zone operations manager Brett Bowden said urban and rural property owners were bound by the same restrictions.
“Permits are available free through your local [NSW RFS] captain or by contacting our office,” he said.
Penalties for lighting a fire during a total fire ban are even tougher, up to $25,000.
“In the event of a total fire ban when they are identified for forecast reasons all permits are suspended during that period,” he said.
Mr Bowden has urged all property owners to prepare their land for bushfire season.
“Rural people need to clean areas they can move livestock to if there’s a fire,” he said.
Bushfire season for the Canobolas NSW RFS Zone will run from October 1 to March 31.
For more information or to obtain a permit to burn, contact Canobolas Fire Control office on 6363 6666.