The RFS will try to burn 7000 hectares in the coming weeks in a bid to catch up on its mitigation targets.Credit:Wolter Peeters
RFS data shows that between July last year to June this year,only 58,591 hectares across the state have undergone hazard reduction – well short of the 280,072-hectare target. That figure includes hazard reduction burning and clearing.
RFS boss Rob Rogers warned a bad fire season was looming given the amount of grass growth in the west of the state,as well as regeneration in areas burnt in the 2019-20 bushfires.
“I am very concerned about it,” he said. “We are not where we should be with burn-offs. As we get into August,I will start being pretty worried because if we get some hot,dry and windy days,we will see a lot of fire.”
Rogers added the best thing people can do ahead of the fire season was to make sure their gutters were clean and that combustible objects around the house were removed.
Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) has also released its winter outlook for the year showing most of the country will experience below-median rainfall in the coming months,which will dry out soil.
Some parts of the country,including parts of NSW and central Australia,are likely to experience above-normal fire risk this winter. The fire risk is likely to increase as summer approaches.