Friday was the Top End’s first real taste of the fire season

As Friday showed, the Top End’s fire season has well and truly begun, so now we need to be vigilant in our actions.

Firefighters during a bushfire on Richardson Rd Humpty Doo Picture: Glenn Campbell

FRIDAY was the Top End’s first real taste of the fire season.

A fire in the Humpty Doo area threatened homes, forcing people to evacuate with their pets in tow. A firey was also treated for heat stress.

Dongas, and cars were destroyed in the fire.

And it’s only August – the start of the fire season.

Authorities have warned us it’s going to be a bad one.

OTHER NT NEWS EDITORIALS

With $15.8m spent in two years, we need to look closely at the aim of ICAC

Corrections staff have been forgotten about in the NT youth justice saga

Edwina Bartholomew: The Olympic Games moment I won’t forget

A thick haze of smoke has settled on the horizon as a reminder of the devastation a bushfire can cause.

We as a community need to be vigilant with what we do at this time of year – lighting fires, mowing or using tools could spark a catastrophic bushfire.

If fireys issue a fire ban then heed their warning. We don’t want to risk a neighbour’s home or the life of a mate or our hardworking fireys.

Of course there will always be fires but there are things we can do to mitigate an outbreak.

People are also reminded that if they see any suspicious activity around the time of a bushfire they should call it in.

Sadly there are people that think it’s OK to deliberately light fires – they will be caught.

Police and fireys are still investigating yesterday’s fire.

But the question remains as the fire season heats up. Will our latest bushfire put a dampener on cracker night?