While Orange has been spared a major bushfire this summer local crews have endured one of their busiest fire seasons.
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Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone District Services Co-ordinator Brett Bowden said Central West volunteers had spent the past five months battling blazes from near the Queensland border to the Victorian border.
He said from September 5 last year until the emergency was finally lifted last Friday 752 volunteers from the region and 174 tankers had completed 923 working days of fighting fires.
"Fortunately we haven't had a major fire operation in our own patch. Partly that is due to the drought conditions," he said.
However Mr Bowden said they were on track for a record number of emergency callouts for smaller fires and other incidents this financial year.
"Five hundred is a busy year. We've had 467 already and it's only in February," he said.
Mr Bowden said the numbers could rise to about 650.
"We've had a pretty busy fire season," he said.
"February is our most dangerous month for bush and grass fires. It's also typically the most active for storms. It's lightning strikes that cause most of our fires."
Mr Bowden said recent rains had greened up areas around Orange but some areas, including near Panuara south of Mount Canobolas, were dry.
"The rains have been pretty good. It's still pretty patchy," he said.
Mr Bowden said the RFS would not be storing additional resources in the Central West as a safeguard against a large fire in the region.
February is our most dangerous month for bush and grass fires.
- Brett Bowden, RFS Canobolas Zone
He said with 80 brigades, 150 tankers and 2500 volunteers the region was well equipped.
"We don't really need to have additional resources," he said.
Mr Bowden said the outpouring of support and money from the public for the volunteers was appreciated - including at the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert in Sydney last Sunday.
"The volunteers that we have are so committed to what they do. They are not out there looking for any kudos or hero worship," he said.
Mr Bowden said many volunteers had given up their Christmas and New Year to fight fires far away from their homes.
"It's been a big and busy season and has taken its toll on many individuals, we are so proud of our people and what we have all achieved together to support our communities and the wider NSW public," he said.
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