Central Coast farmers will find managing fire risk on their property a lot easier with the releasing of guidelines set to help firefighters and landowners work together more efficiently to safeguard against bush fires and grass fires.
With all farmers required to have a farm fire unit on their properties, the Operational Guide for the use of Farm Fire Units will empower rural landholders to work side-by-side with NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery, Steph Cooke, said.
“The record sustained wet weather has caused widespread vegetation growth which will increase the threat of grass fires across regional and rural NSW this summer, which is why it’s important to find ways to ensure our communities are better prepared,” Cooke said.
Farm Fire Units are privately owned and operated by landholders and consist of a vehicle-mounted water tank, pump and hose, and these guidelines will ensure a more integrated approach to firefighting alongside the RFS.
Minister for Agriculture, Dugald Saunders, said it is important to harness the local knowledge and skill of private landholders.
“Farmers are often the first responders to grass fires and they understand the risks and seriousness of operating machinery in hot, dry conditions,” Saunders said.
“These new guidelines will provide another layer of assurance for landholders whose properties are significant distances away from their nearest town.”
RFS Commissioner, Rob Rogers, said the guide is another step in bolstering the partnership between firefighters and farmers ahead of the next fire season.
“Over the last couple of years, we have been working hard to develop a framework for a better, more integrated relationship between farmers and the RFS, and NSW Farmers has played a critical role in developing this,” Rogers said.
“The guidelines will enable RFS brigades to better understand the farmer’s perspective and the high degree of skill and knowledge in areas such as land management and how Farm Fire Units can best be integrated into firefighting operations, safely.”
NSW Farmers President, Xavier Martin, said it was great to have the guidelines and framework in place.
“NSW Farmers has appreciated being able to share our important knowledge and we look forward to working with the NSW RFS over the coming months to ensure our grain crops, orchards and livestock are protected against any blazes,” Martin said.
Source:
Media release, Aug 30
NSW Government