AUTHORITIES have put landholders and contractors on notice, warning they will prosecute them if they fail to obey laws, after two fires sparked by hot works spiralled out of control near Tamworth.
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Yesterday seven Rural Fire Service (RFS) trucks were deployed to fight a grassfire that had raced away in a paddock off Maysteers Ln at Moore Creek.
It took 20 firefighters a number of hours to black out the fire, which was sparked by a welder.
RFS Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said crews were becoming frustrated by those who weren’t prepared should an emergency break out.
“Anyone doing hot works in grass or paddocks must have either a 1kg dry powder extinguisher, a nine-litre water extinguisher or a 16L knapsack,” he said.
“On previous occasions the RFS have discovered workers have been ill prepared with just a bucket of water, which has put people’s lives and property at risk.”
A similar fire was sparked in a neighbouring paddock by a grinder just a few weeks ago.
“The RFS certainly has scope to prosecute those who do not comply with the laws,” Superintendent Purkiss said.
Local RFS officers across the New England, Northern Slopes and North West zones are fighting fires or patrolling burnt-out areas after a flurry of lightning strikes from summer storms caused havoc earlier this week.
Extremely dry conditions, little rain and heatwaves have combined to create some of the worst fire conditions for volunteers, just days out from the busy summer bushfire period.
“Despite the cooler temperatures today, the threat hasn’t eased,” Superintendent Purkiss said.
“Yesterday’s fire did take off very quickly, even know it was cool, because there was a mild wind.
“It just shows fire behaviour can be so unpredictable with a little wind.”
A high fire danger is forecast for much of the region today.
