The Rural Fire Service (RFS) says Orange’s wet winter will delay its hazard reduction burns as the growing season rapidly approaches.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Operational officer Gary Hansen said the service was already conducting the burns across the Central Tablelands at this time last year.
But after the soaking the district has received this year – according to weatherzone.com.au Orange had 219 millimetres in June and 148.2mm in July – the burns will have to wait.
“The spring hazard reduction program is not going to kick off until September,” he said.
He said there were hazard reduction sites ready to go, and the RFS was just waiting for the weather to fine up.
It was a different story in mid-August last year, when the district’s then NSW RFS Superintendent Greg Wardle was already warning about the threat of fires breaking out.
Supt Wardle said at the time that much of the region’s grasses had dried off, after recent harsh frosts, and could quickly catch fire in the right conditions.
“Even though the weather conditions are still cool, there is still the potential for fires to threaten life, property and the environment,” he said.
Mr Hansen said the RFS was concerned about the late rain this year stimulating growth in the grasslands as the hot months got closer.
While the RFS is ready to begin its hazard reduction burns, the weather this week looks set to continue to frustrate its efforts.
Already in August the Orange region has received in excess of 85mm of rain.
Rain and showers are forecast on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, delivering a total over the four days that could top 70 millimetres.
Twenty to 40mm is forecast for Friday alone.
While Orange has had 743mm for the year so far, neighbouring Bathurst has had 505mm and Dubbo has had 524mm.
Central West residents have also endured two floods in two weeks during the Central Tablelands’ wet winter.
The decision to delay the precautionary burning comes at the same time as calls for the RFS to expedite its decision regarding the location of its headquarters.
Amid calls from politicians and the Volunteer Firefighters Association the RFS is considering a regional centre for its base in the state.
Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Armidale, Parkes and Forbes have all been touted as possible hosts for the centre.
