A wet winter may lead people to believe the upcoming bushfire season will be less severe, but the Rural Fire Service (RFS) says all the extra grass growth could make conditions much worse.

NSW RFS Wagga Community Safety Officer Inspector James Smith said residents should be planning for potential bushfires now.

“Have a plan,” Mr Smith said. “A lot of grass growth has left us with the potential for faster-spreading fires with more fuel around.

“Our season might start a little later due to the wet winter but now is the time to be thinking about being ready for bushfires.”

The NSW RFS has launched a new website – www.myfireplan.com.au – where residents can access all the information they need to get their property ready.

‪The RFS encourages people to enact hazard reduction plans this weekend by calling it Get Ready Weekend. 

The RFS said it was a great opportunity to start talking with your family about your plan of what you will do if a fire starts near you.

NSW RFS Forest Hill Brigade is holding an information day at Bunnings Warehouse on Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Simple tips like clearing leaves from your gutters and removing flammable items from around your home, will go a long way to keep your property safe.

Mr Smith said people could use the website to assess their property’s fire risk, as well as being a source of information about fires burning near them.

If residents are concerned about a property near them that they may think is not bushfire safe, Mr Smith said they could contact their local RFS to have them assess the property and take steps to reduce the fire risk if necessary.

Riverina has been labelled as above normal by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre in its outlook for the 2015-16 bushfire season.

An El Nino weather pattern is predicted for eastern Australia over summer.