NSW’s rural fire authority has warned residents in the lower western part of the state not to be complacent as the region records grass growth unseen since 2016.
The Rural Fire Service has called for landholders to create firebreaks sooner rather than later after a recent grass fire near Wentworth demonstrated the celerity of grass-based fires.
Grass growth in inland NSW was earlier this week described as “prolific” in the National Council for Fire Emergency Services’ seasonal bushfire outlook.
The report noted that wet conditions from high rainfall would promote further grass growth, adding to already high fuel loads.
It forecast those grass fuels to cure and become more susceptible to fire later in summer and the possibility of exceeding average fire danger.
NSW RFS lower western district manager Steve Walker said both Wentworth and Balranald shires had seen “prolific” grass growth.
“We have not seen grass like this since probably 2016,” Mr Walker said.
He urged people travelling on rural roads to remain vigilant and for landholders to implement bushfire management plans sooner rather than later.
“There’s a lot of areas out in the flats that have got water just sitting there. But there are still plenty of areas that are dry.
“I would suggest to people as it’s safe, and they’re not going to get bogged, (that they) start putting in their fire breaks.”
Mr Walker said people should not be complacent as recent grass fires north of Wentworth demonstrated how quickly a grass fire could spread.
“We’ve already had one (fire) three weeks ago where 150 hectares burned out in a day.
“Although that was contained fairly quickly, the amount of time that it took to actually block it out and make it safe takes people away from their day-to-day activities.”
Fire services will be on alert this summer season after a fire burned about 21,000 hectares near Pooncarie last December.
The fire at Lethero Station threatened to jump to Mungo National Park and required several drops of water by fire- bombing aircraft from Wentworth Aerodrome.
Mr Walker said fire services had carried out strategic firebreaks but would wait for floodwaters to recede before inspecting sites again.
