The big win firefighters are hoping for this weekend is to get through the grand final days without anyone suffering any serious burns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The CFA and NSW Rural Fire Service have come together in a plea to Border residents to be careful as they fire up barbecues for celebrations – probably for the first time in months.
CFA District 24 operations officer Brett Myers said barbecue fires could be very dangerous.
“I remember an incident with a fire involving a barbecue recently a few years ago, where the person cooking the barbecue actually sustained substantial burns to their face area,” he said.
“Particularly if the barbecue is located close to a structure, it could potentially catch onto a shed or a house.”
Firefighters will be on standby as the mix of warm weather and grand final celebrations increases the chances of an incident.
“I think there’s definitely a risk when you combine cooking a barbecue with excessive alcohol so make sure that if someone is cooking a barbecue that they are being responsible,” Mr Myers said.
CFA tips to ensure barbecues are safe include checking the gas cylinder is in good condition, the fittings are tight and there is no excess fat on the plate that could spark a fire.
The worst-case scenario of having a damaged gas cylinder would be if it caused an explosion or fire leading to serious injury or even death.
NSW Rural Fire Service Southern Border district officer Charles Anderson said the risk of out of control campfires would also increase with long weekends in both states.
“We are seeing an increase in campers throughout the river mainly and in the nicer spots of the world away from the urban interface,” he said.
“You want to keep a three-metre clear area around your campfire and you want to get rid of all your flammable materials… About a metre cubed is the maximum size.”
Mr Anderson said it was vital residents knew the risk fires so they could defend their homes.
“Living in the bush is part of the Australian life, but with the bush comes the bushfires,” he said.
“We’re seeing a lot more warmer weather starting to come through a bit more earlier and we’ve had really good growth throughout the year.
“So it’s a beautiful year for the farms, which means it’s a bad year for the fire services.”
The NSWRFS recommends preparing now for fire season, starting in November, by getting rid of winter growth at properties, clearing gutters and moving anything flammable away.
