Dubbo-based incident controller urges observance of NSW fire ban

An Orana NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) strike team has "contained" a couple of small fires in the Goonoo Forest.

The fires started about 1.30pm on Tuesday.

NSW RFS Orana team member Mark Pickford told that Daily Liberal about 3pm "there's nothing to worry about at all".

"We've had a couple of ignitions out there from the fire three weeks ago," the district services coordinator said.

"Some dry leaf fall has blown onto a hot spot and created a couple of smokers, that's all."

Mr Pickford said the strike team of about 20 firefighters and five tankers were on the scene at Samuels Road which was "within the burned-out area".

"Three vehicles and six crew from National Parks are out there as well," he said.

No one had been injured or evacuated and the fires had been contained, he said.

Mr Pickford said the fires were reported by a passer-by.

"Someone did the right thing and called it into us," he said.

EARLIER TUESDAY

An Orana NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) strike team is ready to head to any fire which starts around Dubbo, Wellington or Narromine on Tuesday.

Volunteer brigades are in a "heightened state of alert to respond to fires" after the region became subject to a preemptive Section 44 declaration under the NSW Rural Fires Act 1997.

Tankers, heavy earth-moving equipment and aircraft are on standby should a fire break out during Tuesday.

Incident controller at the Orana Fire Control Centre at Dubbo on Tuesday, Young-based Superintendent Andrew Dillon, said the declaration was prompted by forecast weather conditions including "very strong north-westerly winds".

"The declaration ensures we are well and truly prepared for what possibly could happen," he said.

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Superintendent Dillon, who was the incident controller for the recent bush fire in the Goonoo Forest, urged the community to observe a statewide fire ban and "not do any sort of work that could lead to an ignition".

He reported of a fire-free RFS Orana region mid-morning on Tuesday.

"It's really important for all members of the the community not to undertake activities today, particularly this afternoon, which could start a fire," Superintendent Dillon said.

"There are significant penalties if somebody does cause ignition that leads to a fire this afternoon."

Superintendent Dillon said the region had limited grass fuel but its scrub and forest were "very volatile".

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He recommends people living in areas which have "significant forest vegetation" move to Dubbo, Wellington or Narromine if they are "not well prepared" for fire on Tuesday.

"It would be a good idea to move to a larger centre if you are not prepared and you are not physically capable of doing your own protection," Superintendent Dillon said.

The incident controller said if the need arose, "we'll also be focusing on messaging the community with accurate and timely alerts".

Superintendent Dillon said more than 40 staff and volunteers of the Orana RFS team had been deployed to fires in other parts of the state in the past six weeks.

"Some of them have gone on multiple occasions," he said.

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Superintendent Dillon said Orana RFS manager Lyndon Wieland was currently working at Glen Innes.