Complacency is the new fight for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) as the start of the bushfire season approaches.
COMPLACENCY is the new fight for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) as the start of the bushfire season approaches.
The RFS is about to launch a $2.3 million advertising campaign to encourage people to actively make a plan for what to do in a bushfire.
Tamworth RFS community safety officer Inspector Peter Roffe says the campaign will stress that planning to make a plan is not a plan.
Most people know they should have a plan but put it off, thinking it won't happen to them.
"Bush and grass fires are part of the landscape in the Tamworth district but, despite this, many people fail to prepare their homes and families for them," Inspector Roffe said.
He said recent fires in the Moonbi area had shown how quickly a fire could approach and change direction, catching people off-guard.
With a warmer and drier season than usual, the RFS has attended more than 2400 bush and grass fires in the past three months alone.
The message of the campaign is clear to give you and your property the best chance of survival, you need to plan and to do it now.
"Making a plan is not difficult and it could save you and your family this bushfire season," Inspector Roffe said.
The campaign is going statewide, with TV, radio, newspaper, online and outdoor advertisements stressing the importance of fire safety.
The Tamworth region and most surrounding regions throughout the Hunter and out to Moree are under very high fire warnings, with a chance of a complete ban looming as the weather heats up this week.