Cool coastal weather could mean NSW firefighters can celebrate Christmas

While experts warn that the deadly dry season is still a threat, the weather might offer a slight reprieve for those in NSW.

A cool change could mean firefighters have the chance to spend Christmas with their families, instead of tackling the blazes. Picture: Supplied.

The surge in rainy weather at Christmas-time could be a blessing in disguise for NSW firefighters and those in high fire risk areas.

For the first time in “weeks and weeks”, the RFS is seeing only moderate fire danger across most of NSW. the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), told news.com.au.

“We’re going to see firefighters be able to be at home with their families, and not on fire ground,” a spokesman said, if the weather lasts at the predicted rate.

A cool change could mean firefighters have the chance to spend Christmas with their families, instead of tackling the blazes. Picture: Supplied.

Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said that the Christmas long weekend would see showers and thunderstorms across NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Mr Shepherd warned that many areas are still at risk, with NSW only being “halfway through the fire season”.

“We will see a return of a higher fire risk,” he said. “But the most positive thing is that’s unlikely going to be across that Christmas period.”

RFS Media and Communications manager Ben Shepherd with ‘thank you’ cards from kids across NSW, during the fires of 2019-2020. Picture: Damian Shaw

The RFS had already had a busy fire season before this change in weather conditions – due to the push of a climate driver called the Southern Annual Mode, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The coast has been fortunate that it has benefited from some occasional wet weather,” Mr Shepherd said. “[Areas] particularly in the north … have been where we’ve seen significant fire activity.”

As an example, Mr Shepherd referred to a fire that the RFS recently handled that travelled up to 30km in a few short hours.

“I think we have to be very aware of where you live in NSW, about how you might think the season’s going so far,” he said. “I think that the season that was forecast has come to fruition.”

The RFS advises every citizen to have a thought-out action plan in the event of a fire threat, and to discuss this with other members of your household. Picture: John Appleyard

Following Christmas, the RFS will focus much of its efforts on the Western Division of NSW, which still has “significant grass growth” that could cause fire risks from now until March.

While the RFS expect continued spikes in heat across the state, Mr Shepherd said that “hopefully we get to the end of it and we can say that NSW was a reasonably quiet fire season – at least the coastal areas.”

In the case of fire risk to your area, Mr Shepherd advised citizens to maintain clean gutters, trim excessive lawns and branches, and to have fire plan discussions with other members of your household, whether you’re at home or travelling.