Rural Fire Service cops foul abuse for hazard reduction smoke
Firefighters have been racing against the clock to perform hazard reduction burns ahead of the approaching fire season but disgruntled residents, many from Sydney’s east and lower north shore, have been targeting fireys with abuse due to the smoke in the air.
NSW
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Firefighters racing the clock to complete hazard reduction burns before a wet spring turns into a fiery summer are copping foul abuse from residents upset at the smoke.
Emergency Services Minister David Elliot said the majority of complaints are coming from households in Sydney’s well-heeled suburbs.
At the same time, NSW Rural Fire Services social media pages have also been targeted by disgruntled residents, with one calling the organisation a bunch of “f**king c...s”.
Almost one year since last year’s fires claimed its first victims, Mr Elliott said he has been inundated with complaints from residents about the smoke, many of whom from “Sydney’s east and lower north shore”.
While the “Black Summer” bushfires razed large swathes of the bush, the fire threat still remains this season, with areas west of the range among the greatest concern.
There also still remains extensive pockets of unburnt bush around Sydney.
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A NSW RFS map of fuel loads showed already high levels of vegetation growth up and down the state, with red areas indicating sites of more than six tonnes per hectare.
With more rain forecast and warm weather on the way, the RFS is concerned there is likely to more growth over the coming few weeks.
The greatest fire threat is expected in the first quarter of next year.
“With more rain forecast and warm weather on the way it is likely we will see more growth over the coming few weeks,” a NSW RFS spokesman said.
With fire crews working around the clock to meet hazard reduction targets to mitigate the threat, Mr Elliott said he was disappointed that not even the experience of last summer had failed to quell complaints about smoke.
“The fear is that after a wet spring, everything will grow and we will only require a few extreme days for the bushfire threat to re-emerge,” he said.
“That’s why are doing as much mitigation work as possible, and that’s why I am implementing as many of the bushfire inquiry recommendations as is possible.
“The problem I have is the complaints from the smoke and I can reveal the majority of residents that are complaining are from the lower north shore, Mosman and from Sydney’s eastern suburbs because Little Johnny can’t play soccer. I’ve had some very influential people come see me to complain. If you live in the Blue Mountains or the Hawkesbury, the smell of smoke right now is a relief, so it’s disappointing that anyone thinks they need to complain.”
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Among the complaints on social media, one user posting on the NSW RFS Facebook page asked why residents should suffer for those that chose to live in the bush.
However, not all complaints are from the city with one angry Blue Mountains resident unhappy at a hazard reduction burn taking place on Mother’s Day telling the organisation to “stick to” responding to fires as they occurred rather than polluting the air with smoke.
“Mother’s Day appears to a be a particular favourite of yours,” the resident posted.
“The smoke has polluted the skies of Springwood for four days running now.
“Your big red loud petrol-guzzling trucks are to mitigate current threats not pre-empt them.”
Originally published as Rural Fire Service cops foul abuse for hazard reduction smoke