OFFICIALLY, the bushfire season doesn’t start until the long weekend in October.

Modern Media: Advertise with News Of The Area and you get your ad in 1) in Print, 2) on the News Website (like this ad), and 3) on our Social Media news site. A much more efficient way to advertise. Reach a HUGE audience for a LOW price TODAY! Call us on 02 4983 2134. Or media@newsofthearea.com.au[/caption]
Or CLICK FOR ADVERT QUOTE

But last week 70 bushfires were burning across New South Wales, 20 of them out of control, and the mid-north coast right in the thick of it.

“It’s going to be a long hot summer, it’s going to be a long hot fire season,” Noel Quince from the Pindimar/Tea Gardens Rural Fire Service told News Of The Area.

The Community Liaison Officer was speaking at the RFS Open Day at Myall Quays Shopping Centre last Saturday.

Rural Fire Service volunteers donated their time and expertise to helping the public become ‘fire ready’.

Information Kits were available to anyone who asked on how best to prepare and protect homes and properties against the threat of fire.

Maps were also available to show locals how their homes could be close to danger zones.

The Pindimar/Tea Gardens Brigade has already carried out a number of hazard reduction burns.

It’s often a difficult proposition, gathering volunteers and hoping for a day when the winds are favourable.

“We’ve got one at Jimmys Beach which needs to be done and about five or six others which we classify as urgent,” Noel said.

The Open day is an annual event and the Bulahdelah Rural Fire Brigade held their ‘Get Ready Weekend’ at Wade Park.

For more information on how to protect your home and stay safe head to the Rural Fire Service Website www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/getready.

By Margie TIERNEY