Reduce Your Hazards & Improve Your Fire Plan

With bush fires burning around our Shire it’s time to enact your fire plan.

That’s the message Bellingen Shire Mayor, Cr Dominic King, wants our community to remember as Rural Fire Services continue to battle and contain fires around our area.

“Everybody should take the opportunity to improve their existing fire plan or to make a plan that gives your property, your family and yourself the best chance of survival should you be threatened by bush fire.”

Cr King said there were some simple and timely things everybody could do to ensure that their house and property was well prepared to survive a bushfire.

“Hazard reduction is just one way of preparing for bushfires, so reduce ground fuel around your property, make sure your gutters a clear of debris and remove outdoor items such as furniture, door mats, shoes and washing from clotheslines.”

“To help reduce ground fuel in our Shire, Council is also offering free green waste disposal for residential garden waste at the Raleigh and Dorrigo Waste Management Centres from 11 Nov to 25 Nov 2019.”

“For more details about our green waste program and to access a variety of important links to fire safety information, simply click on this Community Fire Updates link.”

Cr King said he had also been advised that fires burning around of our area had temporarily affected several power and telecommunication services in surrounding areas.

“You should also make sure that your mobile phones are fully charged, that your phone charging cables are in your vehicle, which should also be fully fuelled, and that you have a supply of fresh batteries and a transistor radio.”

“These items should be in your emergency grab bags in case we suffer intermittent power or communications failures so you can stay informed of fire developments or contact friends and family to let them know you’re safe and what you plan to do.”

Cr King said the NSW Rural Fire Service also had an excellent online resource which identified how to prepare an emergency survival kit and exactly what items should be in it.

“This kit will help you regardless of whether you have to leave your property or actively defend your home, so go to Council’s Community Fire Updates page and click on the Emergency Survival Kit link to find out more.”

Cr King said the Community Fire Updates page also provided a link to the Fires Near Me NSW Mobile Applicationwhich allows users to receive ‘push’ notifications about fires in our region that identify the location and size of fire activity in areas you nominate.

“These are extremely challenging circumstances and we’re working hard to ensure you have access to the most current and useful information to remain informed and aware of how to protect your property and families and stay safe during this fire danger period.”