Sunday marks the beginning of the Bushfire Danger Period across New South Wales.
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The Rural Fire Service is reminding residents across Queanbeyan-Palerang that from October 1 fire permits will be required for anyone wishing to light a fire in the open.
Permits are free and can be obtained from a local fire station.
NSW RFS superintendent Tim Carroll said it was important that all residents obey fire laws, particularly during times of a total fire ban.
“We urge all residents in the Queanbeyan Palerang area to be vigilant and extremely careful with fire during the bushfire danger period,” superintendent Carroll said.
“We had major fires locally last summer, and we have already had several fires locally and across the state.
“Every resident should have a bushfire survival plan so they know what to do on days of increased fire danger and can immediately put their plan into action if their home is threatened by fire.”
Experts are warning that after a particularly dry winter the Queanbeyan and ACT regions are facing an increased fire risk this summer.
Manning the frontlines will be volunteers from all walks of life with the NSW RFS.
Deputy fire captain Nicole Clark from the Jerrabomberra brigade met her husband Phil on the back of a fire truck. They’ve now been together 11 years, have a five-year-old son and still volunteer with RFS.
Ms Clark said the RFS features community-minded volunteers of all ages that are often the first on the scene in an emergency.
“There is an element of danger at times, but there are so many opportunities to train and learn new skills,” Ms Clark said.
“It’s a wonderful way to give back to the community.”
Highlighting a community approach to firefighting in our region is the actions of Greenleigh residents Eddie and Tom McCarthy who successfully fought a fire near their home on Monday.
The brothers were returning home when they saw smoke coming from a backyard of a home on Severne Street.
They acted immediately to see if anyone was home and then finding the house empty began fighting the fire with buckets of water. Eddie ran around the blaze in barefeet after “busting a plugger” in his thongs.
“I’ve lived here my whole life and I knew that if it got out of control that it would have been pretty devastating for people here,” Eddie said.
“The quicker you act, the quicker it’s going to be resolved.”
Firefighters then arrived and made sure the fire was completely extinguished and examined the area.
To highlight the dangers of the bushfire season and promote the work done by RFS volunteers there will be a community day held at Beltana Park in Googong on October 7.
The event will run from 10am to 2pm and you will get an opportunity to climb in the fire trucks, learn about the firefighters’ jobs and equipment and enjoy a sausage sizzle and live music.
Further information about bushfire season and fire permits can be obtained from the RFS website or by calling the Lake George Fire Control Centre on 6128 0600 or the Bushfire Information Line on 1800 679 737.
