{"id":8277,"date":"2020-09-20T10:56:28","date_gmt":"2020-09-20T10:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=8277"},"modified":"2020-09-20T10:56:28","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T10:56:28","slug":"community-urged-to-get-ready-for-bushfire-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/09\/20\/community-urged-to-get-ready-for-bushfire-season\/","title":{"rendered":"COMMUNITY URGED TO \u2018GET READY\u2019 FOR BUSHFIRE SEASON"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents across NSW are being encouraged to get ready for the upcoming bushfire season and ensure their home is prepared and their bushfire plan is up to date.
\nPremier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government has worked closely with the RFS and Resilience NSW to ensure the State is as prepared as it can be for the upcoming bushfire season.
\n\u201cIn May, we announced $45 million in additional funding for the RFS to fast-track hazard reduction, employ 100 new paid State Mitigation Crew positions and upgrade the firefighting fleet,\u201d Ms Berejiklian said.
\n\u201cWe are as prepared as we can be, but it\u2019s also important the community understands the important role they play in having a well-prepared property and fire plan.
\n\u201cIt takes five minutes to make or improve a plan that will give your property and your family the best chance of survival should you be threatened by a bushfire.\u201d
\nPolice and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said Get Ready Weekend is a great opportunity for families to get to know their local firefighters and find out about the fire risk in their area.
\n\u201cI encourage all residents to seek out and understand their bushfire risk, regardless of how your local Brigade is hosting their Get Ready Weekend activities,\u201d Mr Elliott said.
\n\u201cWe saw last season how quickly fires can develop and threaten homes and lives, so now is the time to get ready.\u201d
\nCommissioner Rob Rogers said recent wet conditions have seen an increase of vegetation growth west of the divide, bringing an unwelcome threat of grass fires.
\n\u201cGrass fires can be especially dangerous because they start quickly and spread rapidly, destroying not only homes and stock but also lives and livelihoods,\u201d Commissioner Rogers said.
\n\u201cLast season was unprecedented, in terms of area burnt, lives lost and homes destroyed, but we cannot be complacent this season thinking that we won\u2019t see fire activity again.\u201d
\nThe top four tips to getting ready for bushfire season are:<\/p>\n