**Fire permits suspended in Singleton and Muswellbrook** The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has suspended the issuing of fire permits until further notice in the Muswellbrook and Singleton Local Government Areas due to the continued dry conditions. NSW RFS Superintendent Paul Jones said the decision to suspend issuing of fire permits had been made in order to help keep the local community safe from bush and grass fires. “In hot, dry and windy conditions fires can start quickly and spread rapidly and the potential is there for dangerous fire weather to eventuate in the coming weeks,” Supt Jones said. “Just one spark from a planned hazard reduction can cause a fire to spread and threaten life and property. “While issuing of fire permits have been suspended, we encourage residents to undertake other activities to protect their property from fire, such as clearing leaves from their gutters and removing flammable materials from around their homes.” We also would like to remind people that camp fires (for cooking and recreational purposes) are still legal without a fire permit unless it is a Total Fire Ban. If you decide to have a camp fire please ensure the following: • You have cleared an area of at least 2 meters around the perimeter of the fire • You are burning dry seasoned wood • You extinguish the fire before leaving the site Serious penalties, including fines and/or imprisonment, apply for starting a fire without a permit during the Bush Fire Danger Period. For further information on how you can protect your property, or to download a Bush Fire Survival Plan, visit the NSW RFS website at rfs.nsw.gov.au or call the Hunter Valley Fire Control Centre on 6574 5186.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 01:29:47 +0000