The longer bushfire danger period means residents must have permits to light any fires in an open space.

It helps firefighters to keep the community safe when the wrong gust of wind could set a fire off, Tamworth Rural Fire Service Superintendent Allyn Purkiss said.

"It's not a decision the RFS makes alone, it's the bush fire management committee," he said.

"It's too dry for us to let people go burning willy-nilly, there will be conditions over a certain wind speed or temperature where fires cannot be lit.

"People will have to have water on hand and stay with the fire the whole time to make sure it's safe."

Usually Tamworth's bushfire danger period is six months, this year it will go for eight, with the potential for extension beyond that.

Volunteer firefighters are weary after a longer than usual season pushed many to their limits, Mr Purkiss said.

"We've had a very busy season, we've had two bushfire emergencies with extra assistance," he said.

"We came out of a really dry winter, the summer before that was dry and it didn't let up this season.

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"It's nearly two years straight where we've been flat out, absolutely flat out.

"The troops are a bit weary of it as you would expect, as we all are - we just want some rain and a break."

With the Rural Fire Service drought index still rated well over 100, even a 35-degree day with strong winds could see another Total Fire Ban implemented.

The bushfire season will wrap up at the end of April.

Mr Purkiss took the opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have worked hard to keep the community safe, and the employers that have allowed them to go out and protect homes from fire.

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