The Greater Sydney Bushfire Danger period commences on 1st October. To prepare for this bushfire season I strongly encourage all residents, landowners and businesses to prioritise their bushfire preparedness.
We have been very lucky in the past 20 years to have had no major bushfires in Hornsby area, and after several very wet summers, I have noticed a concerning level of complacency amongst many in the community.
The Hornsby local government area is the Bushland Shire which we all love. However, because of this we will always be exposed to the risk of bushfire. The upcoming summer will bring an escalated potential risk in our region due to increasing bushfire fuel levels.
To assist with protecting lives and property the RFS emphasise the need for residents to plan and prepare themselves, and their property for the upcoming summer. To support these efforts, they are holding their annual state-wide ‘Get Ready Weekend’ on 16th and 17th September. This aims to provide the community an opportunity to connect with their local brigades to discuss their specific bushfire risks. The event underlines the significance of individual responsibility to create bushfire resilience.
In addition to the Get Ready Weekend, many local RFS brigades are holding street meetings that connect long-time and new residents with local firefighters. These gatherings intend to facilitate detailed discussions about the risks, consequences and steps residents must take to prepare for the impact of bushfires. Aimed at raising awareness and motivating early pre-emptive measures, these RFS events are designed to engage, inform and change behaviour in the community.
To find out more about how you can prepare your family and property for bushfires, visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare
For further details on the Get Ready Weekend, go to https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs or contact your local RFS brigade directly.
