With the bush fire season coming soon the Cudgegong Rural Fire Service (RFS) District is trialling two new high-tech versions of one of the organisation’s best-known symbols.
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The RFS ‘Fire Danger Rating’ signs, colloquially known as “roadside rainbows”, have become a fixture of the landscape in rural Australian areas and warn the public of the risk at the time as well as if a fire ban is in place.
Currently there are two new signs being trialled on the outskirts of Mudgee, which are remotely controlled and one features lights replacing the needle.
Cudgegong RFS District acting manager Tony Porter said the organisation is testing the signs in different locations which save driving around to adjust.
“They’re much easier to change, they can be changed here from the office electronically at about 4 or 5pm when we know what the weather is going to be for the next day so it’s at the appropriate level by the next morning,” he said.
“They’re also testing to see if they are visually appealing to the public.
“The RFS has trialled a couple in the Blue Mountains and are currently doing two in the Orana District along with the two here on the Gulgong Road and Sydney Road.”
The bush fire danger period starts on October 1 and runs until March 31.
A number of NSW local government areas have had an early commencement due to their conditions.
Mr Porter said that the spring rain between now and the commencement of the fire season will be the determining factor in the risk of fires, in terms of the growth of vegetation and how much it will dry out.
“The recent rainfalls we’ve been having this week is going to increase the spring growth once the warmer weather comes on,” he said.
“Up until this week the forest fuels around the area have been very dry but the rain has dampened that a bit.
“Depending on how much rain we get between now and October will determine the growth.”
During the danger period land owners require a fire permit to conduct a burn which can be obtained from the Cudgegong District Fire Control Centre by calling 6372 4434.
Permits are suspended on days where a Total Fire Ban is declared.
Local RFS personnel are planning to conduct a number of hazard reduction burns within the next three to four weeks, weather permitting, dates and locations are listed on the RFS website rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/hazard-reductions
