THE region could be set for one of its worst fire seasons yet when heavy green vegetation dries off leaving a massive fuel load.
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The Rural Fire Service is urging people to get on top of the growth around their properties.
Due to the wetter and cooler conditions, small burn permits will be available for the initial three weeks of the bushfire danger period, starting on Monday.
Inspector Marg Wehner, of the Rural Fire Service, said this year's new growth will contribute to a greater fuel load and subsequent fire risk.
"Our fire risk this year is much greater than it has been for several years," she said.
"We keep getting rain and we’ve had tremendous growth but that will eventually dry off as the summer temperatures hit
"It's important that people recognise that this period of time gives them an opportunity to clean up around their properties."
Insp Wehner said it was difficult to predict when vegetation would dry off, given predictions of a more humid than usual start to summer.
"It certainly seems like it will be December before we start to get into some very dry typical summer weather," she said.
Hazard reduction burns were completed in Glenroy at Nail Can Hill and Woomargama National Park earlier this year to reduce the fuel load for the coming season.
Last year, total fire bans had already been enforced across the region in October, but Insp Wehner said it was unlikely any would be enforced until late November this year.
She said last year a lack of spring rain meant the region dried off early, resulting in the devastating Gerogery-Walla fire in December.
The bushfire danger period will start on Monday for residents of Corowa, Berrigan, Greater Hume Shires and Albury City.
Permits will be available for the first three weeks of that period for the burning of grass and small piles of sticks that can be extinguished by midnight on the day the permit is issued.
Permits are obtainable from permit issuing officers, some brigade captains or the Rural Fire Service office in Albury, (02) 6051 1511, or Corowa, (02) 6033 4550.
Restricted burning only is allowed in Albury city.
Residents are advised to contact the council for further details.
