NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters have been called to 27 fires in the region in just the last 10 days.
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The Far South Coast crew controlled a small two hectare grass fire on Monday along Yowrie Rd near Cobargo, the scene of another fire in July.
“There has been 10 bushfires and 10 grass fires just in the Bega Valley,” Far South Coast Rural Fire Service community service officer Marty Webster said on Tuesday.
With the community looking to complete controlled burns before a permit is needed from September 1, Mr Webster said many may be underestimating the current dry nature of the region.
What was green a few months ago is much drier now.
- Far South Coast Rural Fire Service community service officer Marty Webster
“We are drier down here than the Eurobodalla and it’s certainly catching people out and it’s also been made worse by the frost cured grass across the region,” he said on Tuesday.
“What was green a few months ago is much drier now.”
Mr Webster said applying for a permit is a free and easy process through your local NSW Rural Fire Service Fire Control Centre or Fire and Rescue NSW station.
“We want to remind people you just need to get a permit so there’s no need to rush it,” he said.
“We don’t want to stop you burning all together, we just want to know where the fires are.”
He said that while the Australian Bureau of Meteorology is remaining neutral on its summer season weather predictions, the community must stay vigilant and prepare for the worst.
“In our poor soil it can take just 10 days, depending on the conditions, to go from quite wet to very dry,” he said.
“I’d like to encourage residents to look at the simple things they can do to prevent fires.
“Like trimming your garden, staying on top of mowing, making sure your wood piles away from your house, keeping your gutters clean and having a long hose and a good water supply.”