NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) crews are continuing to respond to a number of bush and grass fires across the Richmond Valley and Kyogle Local Government Areas.

Byron Shire had bushfires in 2019-2020, floods in 2022, extreme heatwaves and long power outages in 2024 and early 2025.

Firefighting operations in the Tyagarah nature reserve near the Byron Arts and Industry Estate have significantly down-sized, owing mostly to more dangerous fires elsewhere in the region.

Firefighters in Tabulam and Nymboida, southwest of Lismore, are hoping today’s cooler weather will help work on containing several large fires in the region.

Due to overnight rain on the Bayshore Drive fireground, the fire between Brunswick Heads and Byron Bay has been downgraded to PATROL status, with responsibility returning to local crews.

While in opposition, Anthony Albanese was endlessly critical of Scott Morrison's inaction over the climate emergency, and his lack of meaningful support for Australians as they faced unprecedented bushfires and other calamities. So, does our current prime minister hold a hose, and if so, does it contain petrol or water?

Kerrie Gray has recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia and is also Ballina Shire's newest Senior Citizen of the Year. She met The Echo in Alstonville to talk about the ongoing crises facing our region, and what everyone can do to help.

What makes bushfires worse, causes native species collapse and creates forest dieback?

Recognising the commitment, risk and efforts put in by local volunteers during the unprecedented 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, 164 local Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from the Far North Coast District were recently recognised. 

Following the recent second anniversary of the bushfires that hit our region, Resilient Byron say they are proud to announce the beginning of their...