With the region set to experience its warmest weather since May – and possibly the windiest – the Rural Fire Service has announced that fire permits will be needed to set fires in the open, effective immediately.
Generally the RFS only requires fire permits from September 1 but the unusually long dry spell has seen a spate of fires burning out of control across the northern rivers. The situation is worst in the in the Clarence Valley, where authorities suspect up to 19 fires have been deliberately lit this week.
An RFS spokesperson said he appreciated that cane farmers approaching harvest will be particularly hit by the change but moved to assure them that once permits were in place cane burning could continue as usual.
