Community FAQs

From Sept 1 2022 there is a change Fire Danger Ratings to what is displayed on roadside Fire Danger Rating signs. Fire danger ratings now describe the potential level of danger should a bushfire start in that area. They provide both information and action required to protect you from the potentially dangerous impacts of the identified bushfire risk. They do not indicate the chance of a fire occurring.

Fire Danger Ratings now have four levels – Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic.

When there is minimal risk, Fire Danger Rating signs will be set to ‘No rating’. This is the white wedge sitting under Moderate.

	Plan and prepare. Stay up to date and be ready to act if there is a fire.
	Be ready to act. There’s a heightened risk. Be alert for fires in your area. Decide what you will do if a fire starts. If a fire starts, your life and property may be at risk. The safest option is to avoid bush fire risk areas.
	Take action now to protect your life and property. These are dangerous fire conditions. Check your bush fire plan and ensure that your property is fire ready. If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts. Reconsider travel through bush fire risk areas.
	For your survival leave bush fire risk areas. These are the most dangerous conditions for a fire. Your life may depend on the decisions you make, even before there is a fire. Stay safe by going to a safer location early in the morning or the night before. Homes cannot withstand fires in these conditions. You may not be able to leave, and help may not be available.

Examples of Fire Danger Rating signs are shown below.

This FAQ will be updated with appropriate links to RFS website later in September 2022.

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) informs you of the class of fire that to expect IF a fire breaks out on that day. This is based on many factors including wind strength, the day’s temperatures, and the local vegetation and humidity. The RFS also issues Warnings for localities where a fire is currently burning. For more information see FAQ 2

To put these together, an example is that we have an AFDRS for the Lithgow area that is HIGH. All Lithgow area residents should Be ready to act. That afternoon a fire starts on Blackheath Creek Road. The fire is very fierce and not controlled. The RFS issues an Emergency Warning to residents of Blackheath Creek Road. This local fire does not change the AFDRS rating for Lithgow.

• Gather up your family and critical belongings
• Get everyone dressed in suitable clothing such as:
• Long-sleeved cotton shirts
• Long cotton trousers.
• Protective gloves
• Face (smoke) masks [PS2].
• Goggles
• Stout shoes or boots.

• Know how to get to your chosen safe place.
• Check traffic conditions for routes blocked by fallen trees, smoke and fire using the Live Traffic NSW website or the Live Traffic NSW app.

If you plan to stay, check your fire pumps, hoses and bush fire defence plan.

You should have made a “Bush Fire Survival Plan” in advance and considered whether your are staying and defending or leaving – For more information click BUSH FIRE SURVIVAL PLAN.

In any event you should take the following protective measures

Dress everyone in your family in:
• Long-sleeved cotton shirts.
• Long cotton trousers.
• Protective gloves.
• Face (smoke) masks [PS2]
• Goggles
• Stout shoes or boots.

Make sure you ready pumps, hoses and access to water.

If you are going to leave:
• Update your knowledge with current radio and television broadcasts about the bushfire.
• Check Fires Near Me on the RFS website or the Fires Near Me app.
• Make sure Fire Blankets or pure wool blankets are in the vehicle.
• Check the road you plan to escape on is not blocked by fire, smoke or fallen trees using the link to Live Traffic
• The home page contains links to key resources.

Know these facts:-
• Embers can travel up to 40 kilometres ahead of the bush fire front.
• A bush fire can travel at over 25 kilometres per hour.
• A bush fire will double its speed and increase in intensity for every 10 degrees of an uphill grade.
• Do not expect a fire truck to show up at your home.

• Click on RFS PLAN AND PREPARE guidelines and select Prepare Your Home
• If your property is large click on RFS FARM FIREWISE and use those guidelines.
• Carry out the directions in the RFS Prepare Your Home document.

For everyone in your family provide:

• Long-sleeved cotton shirts.
• Long cotton trousers.
• Protective gloves.
• Face (smoke) masks [PS2]
• Goggles
• Stout shoes or boots.
• Try to obtain several fire blankets or pure wool blankets.

Have the following nearby and ready:

• A (preferably) diesel fire-pump as diesel is less flammable.
• Suitable long hoses and fittings
• Fire-fighting foam. Do not spray the foam on your roof because it will contaminate the tank water.

Decide where you will shelter if it is too late to leave.

• • Do not shelter in bushland, wooden houses, sheds or on uphill slopes.
  • Shelter in a modern brick structure if you can.

• You may either:
• To obtain a permit either contact the Lithgow Fire Control Centre, 4 Silcock Street, Lithgow, NSW 2790  by phone 1300 258 737 or fax 02 6332 8554 or, notify the RFS using the form available by clicking on the link NOTIFY
• The Fire Control Centre will arrange for one of  Kanimbla’s authorised Permit Issuing Officers to inspect the planned site and issue a permit.
• The authorised Permit Issuing Officer will attempt to satisfy your request in less than 48 hours.
• Be patient – the authorised Permit Issuing Officers are volunteers who: May be in full time employment or have to work around other commitments.

 YES:

An Officer of the RFS may enter any premises without prior permission for any reason necessary for the Officer to comply with the Act (Rural Fires Act 1997 No 65). If the RFS Officer in charge considers that people, property or the environment is threatened, that Officer may also:-

• Close any street or public place to traffic near a fire incident or emergency
• Pull down, cut and remove fences
• Destroy, pull down or remove any buildings or structures
• Destroy or remove and living or dead vegetation
• Establish fire breaks
• Take and use and water from any source on any land.
• Use any hydrant or water reticulation system controlled by any water supply authority.
• Light a back-burning fire.
• Shut off or disconnect gas or electricity services.
• Move any vehicle, vessel or other object.
• Remove any person from any land or building.
• Restrain a person from entering or re-entering any land or building.

For more information click AUTHORITIES

YES!

• If the Brigade considers that the fire hazards on your landthreaten people, property or the environment
• The simple rule is – if it’s your property, it’s your hazard and your responsibility. 
• The Local Fire Control Centre can issue a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate (HRC) approving hazard reduction that complies with the Bush Fire Environmental Assessment Code.
• You may also apply for a free HRC through your Local Fire Control Centre by filling in an application form.
• If your HRC is approved it will contain explicit instructions you must obey.
• If you use this process, you may ask the Local Fire Control Centre, State Mitigation or your local brigade for help

YES!

• Under the Rural Fires Act 1997 No 65, Officers of RFS brigades may enter properties to use water stored on those properties.
• Officers have a legal right to draw water from dams and stored water systems.
• The RFS Officer should produce his or her authority card as evidence.
• Understand that the RFS tries to work with property owners to avoid conflicts. See Section 2.2. (d) Powers of Officers  

For more information click WATER

The Static Water Supply (SWS) program identifies properties with sources of water supply such as dams, creeks or swimming pools that can be used for firefighting purposes. ln the event of a fire, the SWS sign and your water tank or backyard pool could save your home. The SWS program is used to identify the location of swimming pools and other water sources in areas of high bushfire risk. The backyard swimming pool provides an ideal emergency water supply for firefighters, using small portable pumps and hose lines, to protect your home and possessions

Contacting the Lithgow Fire Control Centre, 4 Silcox Street, Lithgow, NSW 2790. Phone 1300 258 737 or Fax 02 6332 8554

This is a very difficult decision and a number of complex factors are taken into consideration. These include the path and ferocity of the fire, the property’s vulnerability to the fire, the degree of preparedness shown by the property owner and the availability of fire fighting appliances and crew.  If the property is difficult to access, for example gates are too small for trucks, and the property is littered with combustible materials it will be less likely to be prioritised over a property that is well prepared and easily accessed. Remember – there will never be as many fire trucks as there are properties to defend.