The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) advises all residents in the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Local Government Areas that fire permits are suspended from midnight 22nd December 2016. All fires that are currently burning must be extinguished and no fire permits will be issued while the suspension is in place.
NSW RFS Superintendent Sean McArdle said the decision to suspend fire permits, which has been made in consultation with senior volunteers, is in order to help keep the local community and holiday makers safe from bush and grass fires.
“With no significant rain forecast, the area is becoming increasingly dry and volatile. A number of fires in remote locations have resulted from lightning strikes in the past few weeks, keeping our volunteers and other fire agency personnel very busy,” said Superintendent McArdle.
Superintendent McArdle said all residents should take the current conditions seriously and make sure they have a completed and practiced Bush Fire Survival Plan, in order to protect their family and property should they be threatened by fire.
Weather and rainfall conditions will next be reviewed on the 5th January, when a decision will be made to either lift or continue the fire permit suspension.
For further information on current Fire Danger Ratings, or to download a Bush Fire Survival Plan, visit the NSW RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or phone the Coffs Harbour Fire Control Centre on 6651 6133.
