From 1 September, the following NSW Northern Rivers local government areas are beginning their official Bush Fire Danger Period:
Clarence Valley, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
Fire itself not understanding the bureaucratic love of schedules and lists decided to make itself felt in the Clarence Valley in mid-August resulting in a Sec.44 bush fire emergency declaration (localised state of emergency) to enable a co-ordinated air and ground response to fires in the the Pillar Valley region.
The new NSW RFS Chinook waterbombing helicopter was used to contain fires in the Coutts Crossing area on 20 August 2023.
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The RFS Chinook aircraft was deployed for the first time after arriving in NSW last month. (Supplied: NSW RFS/Sean Leathers). ABC News 20 August 2023 |
As of Tuesday 29 August 2023 the NSW RFS "Fires Near Me" webpage reported that in the Clarence Valley LGA:
- 4 remaining grass fires are Under Control with only monitoring required; and
- of the 9 remaining bushfires 8 are Under Control and one classed as Being Controlled.
From 1 September, the following LGAs also begin their Bush Fire Danger Period:
Muswellbrook, Singleton, Kempsey, Nambucca, Mid-Coast, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Upper Hunter, Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, and Shoalhaven, Tamworth, Bogan, Coonamble, Walgett, Warren, Moree, Gwydir, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle, and Midwestern.
This is in addition to the six LGAs that commenced the danger period on 1 August: Armidale Regional, Walcha, Uralla, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, and Tenterfield.
Once a Bushfire Danger Period commences landholders in these LGAs need to apply for a permit to burn off and notify their neighbours and local fire authorities 24 hours before lighting up. Free permits are available by contacting your local Fire Control Centre.
On 27 August 2023 NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib issued a media release stating in part;
Iconic fire danger rating signs on roadsides across NSW are getting a digital facelift, with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) set to provide real-time fire risk information to communities via remotely operated signs.
More than 200 digital fire warning signs are being rolled out, as the state approaches bushfire season.
The signs, which are powered by solar panels, are automatically updated each day in line with fire danger ratings on the RFS website. The ratings are informed by data from the Bureau of Meteorology.
The digital upgrade means RFS volunteers will no longer need to manually change the signs daily.
The signs use the revised Australian Fire Danger Rating System, which includes four categories for fire danger:
Moderate (green), High (yellow), Extreme (orange) and Catastrophic (red), with simple actions for the community to take at each level. On days when there is minimal risk, ‘no rating’ is used.
