The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) has issued a reminder that Canberra’s 2018 bushfire season is now on.
Opened a month earlier than usual on 1 September, the season is expected to run to 31 March 2019.
ESA Commissioner, Dominic Lane said the decision on the early start had been made after an assessment of the current conditions and consideration of forecast weather.
“All Canberrans should ensure they are prepared,” Mr Lane said.
“The Bureau of Meteorology has advised a 50 per cent change of an El Nino event which means an elevated risk to the ACT from bushfire, heatwave and dust storm is likely.”
He said the ESA would update the Fire Danger Rating (FDR) daily, which was displayed electronically on all major arterial roads across the ACT as well as on the home page of the ESA website.
In addition, he said, people living in or near Bushfire Prone Areas should download a Bushfire Survival Plan from the ESA website, fill it in and have a discussion with their family about what they would do in the event of a fire.
“During the bushfire season, rural landowners and managers must obtain a free permit from the ACT Rural Fire Service before conducting hazard reduction burns,” Mr Lane said.
“To apply for a permit contact 6207 8609, or send an email request to [email protected].”
He said more information on this year’s bushfire season, and how to prepare for it, was on the ESA’s website at esa.act.gov.au.
