Australia fire season 'may be our worst'
RESIDENTS should ready themselves for possibly the worst bushfire season the state has seen, the NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, says. Hazard reduction burns continued across the greater Sydney area after more than 60 bushfires that broke out on September 13 threatened homes and scorched properties. Mr Rees declared yesterday that fire authorities were ready for the bushfire season. He said the hazard reduction burns were an inconvenience to people with chronic respiratory problems but a necessity to protect homes. ”This is an essential part of being prepared for what could be the highest-risk summer that we have ever faced,” Mr Rees said. Thirty areas across NSW have declared their bushfire danger season before the official start of October 1. Mr Rees referred to findings from the royal commission into the Victorian bushfires that claimed 173 lives in February. ”The recommendations there were simply if conditions are deemed to be catastrophic then the best option and the best advice to people is to leave and leave early.” NSW has joined other states in introducing a new fire danger rating system for the bushfire season, with a top-level warning of ”catastrophic”. …
