Residents are being urged to prepare for what could be one of the worst bushfire seasons in years, as firefighters ramp up hazard reduction burns across Sydney .
Firefighters took advantage of spring weather conditions today to push ahead with hazard burns around the city on Friday, with more planned for this weekend.
The warning comes as areas devastated during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 have now recovered to the point where they could sustain serious fires again.
“Areas that were burnt in the 2019-2020 bushfires have now recovered to the extent that they can sustain serious bushfires this year,” NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin warned.
“Everybody needs to be prepared for those fires.”
The threat is compounded by El Niño conditions bringing hot, dry weather and reduced rainfall to the region.
Recent wildfires that ravaged Canada and large swathes of Europe during the Northern Hemisphere summer have heightened concerns, though authorities say that doesn’t necessarily mean the same will happen here.
“We do look closely at what’s happening around the world,” NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
This weekend marks the big “Get Ready” drive, with residents urged to clear leaves and gutters now rather than waiting for heightened risk periods.
“When we get things done earlier, then we don’t have to do it in a situation where there’s a panic or there’s a heightened risk,” Dib said.
The RFS has significantly increased its hazard reduction efforts after years of disruption from increased rainfall.
In the last 12 months, the service has burnt off 124,000 hectares, an area almost as big as Brisbane and a fifth more than the previous year.
Commissioner Curtin said every opportunity would be taken to continue hazard reduction work where conditions allow.