RURAL Fire Service officials have applauded residents and visitors who took heed of warnings and kept local units “very quiet” across the region this long weekend, but they say communities can’t afford to become complacent – with the prospect of a long, hot bushfire season ahead.
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Tamworth RFS inspector Steve Prior said a fire that started in rugged terrain at Halls Creek near Bendemeer was the only significant incident for his crews.
“It’s likely that the fire was caused by machinery and it burnt around 55ha of grassland,” he said.
Inspector Prior said the absence of strong wind gusts at the weekend helped keep the risk of major incidents down.
New England inspector Tim Butcher said it was “very quiet”, but warned of risky conditions ahead.
“We’ve had a week without rain now and there’s no significant rain forecast,” Inspector Butcher said.
In the Liverpool Range district there was only one small grassfire.
