WHILE Scone and surrounding areas experienced limited rainfall over the past week, the landscape remains extremely dry.
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This is proving a challenge for NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) fire fighters as they work to contain a number of fires in the Hunter Region, including a fire near Moonan Brook, west of Scone.
RFS strike teams and National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) fire fighters have been working in steep and difficult terrain to control the fire, believed to have started from a lightning strike over a week ago.
“Our local and out of area fire fighters have been very busy with fires for the past three months,” Liverpool Range Rural Fire District Manager Superintendent Tim Butcher said.
“We have had a range of incidents from smaller grass fires through to our current fire, which was declared a ‘Section 44’ on Tuesday February 20.”
Invoking a Section 44 (of the Rural Fires Act) means additional resources, often from out of area, are assigned to the fire.
It also assist numerous agencies in their effort to coordinate fire-fighting operations.
RFS Superintendent Chris Wallbridge who is the incident controller of the Middle Ridge fire near Moonan Brook, west of Scone praised those working to control the situation.
“Fire fighters are undertaking 12-hour shifts in difficult and arduous terrain, their efforts to contain this fire are to be commended,” he said.
Areas of the Hunter region have had very little rain fall and are experiencing drought conditions, which makes the challenge of fire-fighting that much more difficult.
Often crews have to employ dry fire-fighting techniques, with the use of hand tools and strategic back burning where necessary.
“Without the support of family and employers, our members would not be in a position to help our communities over extended periods of time. It really demonstrates a broad willingness to help others outside of their own region,” Superintendent Wallbridge said.
While conditions look more favourable over the coming days and into the weekend, the fire risk remains high due to the extremely dry landscape.
All unattended fires should be reported immediately, to triple zero (000).