A near–fire disaster in the Riverina has prompted authorities to urge residents to follow safety guidelines as the region faces a very high danger level and heatwave.
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On Wednesday in the Leeton area, a group of people started a cooking fire at a national park; fortunately, the captain of Fivebough Brigade was on site and reported the incident.
The group was advised to extinguish the fire immediately.
In a statement, the brigade said it was more than 40 degrees and that there were many things the group did not consider.
“This not only put their own lives at risk but everyone sharing that beach and everyone in the National Park,” the statement reads.
“Please think before lighting up...if unsure, call the RFS and ask.”
Bradley Stewart, operational officer for NSW RFS Riverina, said that should a fire occur, it would be difficult to control.
“Fires could reach tree tops and there’s an increased chance in people getting injured, as well as homes and businesses being destroyed,” Mr Stewart said.
“The key message is that if fire occurred and not extinguished, a person’s home is only safe if it’s prepared and actively defended.”
Mr Stewart said that while the recent rain had “certainly taken the sting out of fire danger risks”, the green grass will dry out from this heat.
“To a point at which it would be bale to sustain fire – it’d add to the available fuel,” he said.
“People in their day-to-day activities need to be mindful.
“Farmers need to have fire protection in place, including fire breaks and extinguishers on vehicles.
“We encourage farmers to test and run pumps and have an awareness of how they operate.
“Visitors to Wagga need to be aware of what to do should a fire occur.”
With hot weather across NSW, the RFS advises residents to stay cool and hydrated.
Please call Triple Zero (000) if you see an unattended fire.
Saturday is expected to reach a top of 42 degrees based on forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology.
The next five days are then expected to have maximum temperatures in the 30s.
- More about having a fire-safety plan: My Fire Plan
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