A below-normal potential for bushfires is predicted for areas like the Shoalhaven and South Coast as a result of vegetation recovering from the 2019-20 bushfire season, according to a recently released report.
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AFAC, the National Council for fire and emergency services, has released the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for Spring 2021, and Shoalhaven and South Coast are not listed as regions of concern.
The report suggests a lack of fuel and more rain being some of the reasons why we are looking at a below-average potential for bushfire.
The outlook says "forest fuels [bush areas] take longer to re-accumulate than grass land areas", meaning the land is still recovering from Black Summer.
Members of the Shoalhaven RFS are aware of the report but don't want people to come complacent as some parts of the region were not burnt during Black Summer.
"There is still potential for fire to occur," a RFS spokesperson said.
What the RFS wants community members to do is be proactive.
The RFS says people in lockdown should use this opportunity to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season.
The RFS website [www.rfs.nsw.gov.au] contains lots of information on how to prepare for the bushfire season.
Upcoming get ready online events will also be held to help people get ready for the upcoming bushfire season.
NSW RFS brigades across NSW will be holding online meetings and conducting campaigns on their social media channels to encourage everyone to get ready.
Check out your local brigade's social media channels to find out more.
"Preparing for the fire season is as important as ever, and Get Ready Weekend is one of the most effective ways that NSW RFS encourages the community to prepare," the RFS says.
Meanwhile, AFAC CEO Stuart Ellis AM said the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook is an important tool for fire authorities to prepare their operational response within their own jurisdiction and beyond state borders.
"The Outlook provides a national picture of what to expect over the coming months, and the evidence base to make key hazard reduction and strategic operational decisions to reduce bushfire impact on Australian communities," he said.
"Increasingly, fire and emergency services work together to provide assistance across state and territory lines where needed.
"The Outlook provides our Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee with the foresight to determine their collective capacity to share resources interstate if required."
Many agencies played a role on formulating the Outlook.
The Outlook was developed by AFAC, the Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the NSW Rural Fire Service, ACT Emergency Services Agency, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Country Fire Authority, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, Tasmania Fire Service, SA Country Fire Service, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, and Bushfires NT.
AFAC acknowledges work of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and its predecessor the Bushfire CRC, who produced the Bushfire Seasonal Outlook for 16 years.
