Seventeen volunteer firefighters left the northern rivers yesterday to help battle bushfires around the township of Coonabarabran in Central New South Wales.
NSW Rural Fire Service inspector Helen Carlos, who works at the northern rivers fire control centre at Casino, said the volunteers were from various local brigades.
The latest contingent of local firefighters left just as a crew from Casino and Canaiba returned from helping out down Kempsey on Sunday.
Ms Carlos said while bushfire conditions in the northern rivers were ‘not too bad’, she urged anyone wanting to light a fire to make sure they have a permit, and to only light small piles that would extinguish the same day.
‘We will be having warm temperatures again this weekend and obviously if people don’t need to light their fires then they shouldn’t,’ she said.
‘If a big pile has been sitting for 12 months then people should wait a little longer when conditions are safer.’
Meanwhile, the North Coast Local Land Services, which works with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in coordinating agriculture and livestock services, has warned landowners to plan how they would protect their livestock from future bush fire threats.
NCLLS Manager Biosecurity and Emergency Services Jo McGoldrick said planning for bush fires was vital and could save live.
‘Bush fires are a common and natural occurrence in the North Coast region. Planning for bush fires is vital and can save lives,’ Ms McGoldrick said.
‘If landholders have a plan in place and a bush fire alert is issued they will know what steps they need to take to give their livestock the best chance for survival.’
Bush fire survival plan templates are available from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Additionally the North Coast Local Land Services District Veterinarian team are advising stock owners to be mindful of the impacts of high temperatures on their stock – even if there is no local bushfire risk.
Cattle can be affected by heat stress and signs include – increase in respiration rate, open mouth breathing, reduced feed intake, seeking shade, crowding around water troughs, drooling saliva and in severe cases collapse and death.
Owners should ensure that cattle are in a paddock that provides adequate shade opportunities for all stock, especially in the hotter parts of the day and ensure that water supply is adequate.
It is also important to ensure farm dogs have access to plenty of shade and water – providing additional water dishes may be necessary.
North Coast Local Land Services can assist landholders to plan and prepare for fires and other natural disasters in order to protect livestock. For advice and assistance, landholders should contact their nearest office on 1300 795 299.
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