The heat is on for rural firefighters: hot weather has firies on high alert
Published Date: 20 Jan 2016
Summary
HOT weather conditions will keep firefighters from the Canobolas Zone of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) on alert on Wednesday as part of a high fire danger level in the region.
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By Janice Harris
Canobolas Zone RFS operational services co-ordinator Brett Bowden, said fire units from various brigades were despatched across the region on Tuesday to four incidents.
RED ALERT: Canobolas Zone RFS operational services co-ordinator Brett Bowden is warning people about the high fire danger for the region.
“Today will be hot so we are urging anyone who has to work with equipment or machinery to be up early and not work past 10am when it really starts to heat up and the risk of a fire starting is high,” Mr Bowden said.
“Alternatively wait until after 7pm at night when the risk is lower,” he said.
The first call on Tuesday was to a fire that broke out in the Windera Estate on Molong Road, after a faulty power box ignited, burning out 1.2 hectares with five RFS units sent to control the fire
“Fortunately the fire reached a driveway where we were able to contain it,” he said.
A ride-on mower was responsible for the second fire that broke out on the Noonbinna Road near Cowra burning out 9.3 hectares with six units responding to the fire.
Mr Bowden said with many families still on annual holidays they need to ensure activities don’t put them at risk of fire.
“Plenty of parents are still home with their children and trying to get jobs done - so for the next couple of days we are appealing to people to be very mindful of the hot conditions,” he said.
Today the maximum temperature is expected to reach 32 degrees in the area, rising from a minimum of 16 degrees.
The temperature will drop tonight to a minimum of 19 degrees, climbing to a maximum of 32 degrees.
“Then we will get some relief with a cool change,” Mr Bowden said.
Late Tuesday a fourth fire was reported in the Guyong area, with crews responding.
