RFS Inspector David Millsteed aims to tackle complacency for NSW bushfire season

With summer fast approaching, the Rural Fire Service has issued a warning over complacency during the bushfire season, despite heavy La Nina rainfall expected. Here’s how you can stay safe.

As the people of Dubbo prepare for what is looking like yet another wet summer, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) has delivered a warning to guard against complacency, ahead of the bushfire season.

NSW RFS Orana district manager Inspector David Millsteed explained the continued risks, regardless of the expected wet weather conditions.

“Because of the La Nina weather event, bushfires are not going to be as common, but we still hold a high level of concern, “ Insp Millsteed said.

“My concern for the community is that there’s a level of complacency, we’ve had forecasts from the Bureau (of Meteorology) of more rain coming.

“While that’s OK, it’s only going to take a couple days of warm weather, and a little bit of wind and with significant grass growth that we’ve got across the district, it will dry out fairly quickly and be available for fires to start.”

Inspector David Millsteed, District Manager of NSW RFS Orana Team. Photo: NSW RFS

So despite bushfires being towards the lower end of seriousness, Insp Millsteed highlighted grass fires as being a major risk, especially with RFS volunteers facing “challenges” when attacking grass fires in wet conditions.

“When we go to attack any sort of grass fire in its early stages, our appliances are getting stuck in the ground,” he said.

In attempting to raise awareness of the risks, the RFS has established a Get Ready For Fire Season initiative, taking place this weekend.

The message from the RFS is for people who may be at risk to devise survival plans in case of an emergency, with close to 500 community events organised across the state.

“It’s really, really important coming into the summer months, we prepare our properties,” Insp Millsteed said.

“We need to make sure that we’ve got a bushfire plan that we’ve reviewed, and that we know what to do when a fire starts.

“Regardless if we’ve got wet weather or not, it’s really important to make sure that we do that every year prior to the bush fire danger period.”

For any information about how to keep safe this bushfire season, head to the RFS website.