Heat is on our fire crews
A BUILD-up of fuel combined with dry conditions is shaping to make this spring and summer one of the worst bushfire seasons since late 2009.
Forests NSW North East Region operations manager Tom Newby said after a number of benign summers, the recipe was there for a shocking season.
"But there has been a rapid decline in the moisture content of forests between Macksville and the Queensland border in the past month with little rain," Mr Newby said.
"We are now employing a number of casual firefighters who will supplement the Forests NSW firefighting team over the coming months."
Forests NSW has held a number of pre-season fire days and is refreshing staff training for the use of the Rural Fire Service Icon fire information and reporting system.
"We have had 11 fires since July 1 in the Forests NSW North East Region lower fire command area which extends from Macksville to the Clarence River," Mr Newby said.
