The largest amount of fuel in more than a decade has built up around the region following high rainfall and Orana fire superintendent Lyndon Wieland expected vegetation growth to accelerate in coming weeks.

He said fire and disaster plans had been put in place and equipment at 60 fire brigades had been inspected, serviced and checked.

“We can expect an intense grass fire season if rain stops and growth starts to cure,’’ Superintendent Wieland said.

“If rain continues, undergrowth will be green and that will slow the fire season down. But it must be remembered that the grass will dry out at some stage and people need to be prepared.

“Forested country will not be as volatile this year because of higher moisture content and water

flowing in springs, creeks and streams.

“But that should not lead people to complacency. Rural residents and suburban households backing on to open areas need to take steps to prepare properties to withstand wildfire.’’

Superintendent Wieland said vegetation should be grazed, slashed or removed, especially around homes and other structures.

He said some people who had moved into rural areas in the past decade would not have seen vegetation at such high levels and as the warm weather took hold grass would grow so rapidly it would seem to jump out of the ground.

Superintendent Wieland said everyone had a duty of care to prepare for the onslaught of the fire season.

He said embers could travel many kilometres during a bad fire and people living in the Dubbo city area should clean gutters and

roofs now to avoid potential problems.

The RFS has started meeting with brigades to prepare for the bushfire season. Superintendent Wieland said there were 1000 active volunteers in the region and 500 additional personnel ready to help in a bad situation.

The RFS has seven highly experienced paid staff and access to back-up personnel through the regional office if a 24-hour fire operation was required.

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History of fire

People had short memories about the horror of fire, Orana RFS Superintendent Lyndon Wieland said yesterday.

On Christmas Day 1984 Dubbo was surrounded by thick smoke and raging flames during one of the worst bushfire events in living memory.

The tragedy left one property owner dead, several homesteads destroyed and 20,200 hectares blackened.

Superintendent Wieland said other major fire events included a large blaze south of the city in the Minore area and an inferno in the Goonoo forest that resulted in aircraft and earthmoving equipment working for a fortnight.

Superintendent Wieland said the bushfire season officially begins on October 1.

From that date permits would be needed to light fires in the open.