The annual Bush Fire Danger Period began in the Clarence Valley on Friday, September 1, as warm dry conditions across the region have sparked more than a dozen fires in recent weeks.

The Clarence Valley is one of 32 Local Government Areas LGAs in the state including the neighbouring Richmond Valley, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Ballina, and Lismore to begin its Bushfire Danger Period.

Any landholders wishing to conduct a burn on their properties must apply for a free permit from their local fire control centre (Ulmarra) and notify their neighbours and local fire authorities 24 hours before lighting the burn.

Last month a section 44 was declared under the Rural Fires Act in the Clarence Valley which saw additional personnel, resources and equipment brought to the region to battle several blazes.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers said 11 of the 32 areas beginning the danger period this month are doing so a full month earlier than normal due to the prevailing dry conditions.

“Wet weather over the last three years has caused prolific growth, and as we move out of this incredibly wet period the bush fire risk is returning to NSW,” Commissioner Rogers said.

“Fire activity in recent weeks has increased as the landscape dries, forests and grasslands become more susceptible to fires.

“Since August 1, firefighters have responded to more than 2,031 bush and grass fires compared to 638 for the same period last year.”

From September 1, these northern NSW LGAs begin their Bush Fire Danger Period: Muswellbrook, Singleton, Kempsey, Nambucca, Mid-Coast, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Clarence Valley, Ballina, Byron, Tweed, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains and Upper Hunter.

Due to the dry conditions, these LGAs began their Bush Fire Danger Period one month earlier than usual on September 1: Tamworth, Bogan, Coonamble, Walgett, Warren, Moree, Gwydir, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle, and Midwestern.

This year the extremely favourable fire conditions saw six LGAs, Armidale Regional, Walcha, Uralla, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell, and Tenterfield commence their Bush Fire Danger Period a month early on August 1.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib MP has reinforced the need for all landowners to take the time now to prepare for the bushfire season.

“The warm and dry conditions have put landholders on heightened alert. Preparing for the season is a shared responsibility, and everybody needs to think now about their plan and preparation as we head into bushfire season,” he said.

“It’s important to have a plan, even if it’s a conversation with your family about what you will do during a fire – including where you will go, when you will go and what you will take.”

“As the weather starts to heat up, it’s time to take simple steps like reducing vegetation around properties and cleaning gutters to reduce the amount of fuel.”

For more information about hazard reduction burning, obtaining permits and required notification visit the NSW RFS website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/BFDP