WITH the harsh lessons of last year still fresh in people's minds, Bonny Hills RFS captain Glenn Dunn is confident complacency won't be an issue ahead of this fire season.
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It's time to Get Ready.
Mr Dunn said communities are now more aware of what can happen on their properties or even in their suburban houses.
"As sad as it is that people lost their lives and properties last year, it's a hard lesson to learn and people are more prepared this year because they've seen what can happen," he said.
"They know it could happen at their place."
After the bushfire danger period started a month early in August, Mr Dunn said the message for the upcoming season was a simple one.
"Have your bushfire survival plan in order - do you stay or do you go," he said.
"If you go, what are you going to take with you, when are you going to go ... don't leave it until the last minute because the roads could be blocked and trees could be down.
"That's when people die in their cars but if you stay, how are you going to prepare your property before the event happens?"
Mr Dunn said house fires often started from ember attacks under the house as a result of nearby bushfires.
"You can't just decide five minutes from the fire impacting your property that you're going to stay," he said.
"You're not prepared."
This weekend Get Ready Weekend will formally welcome the start of the bushfire season and while fire stations won't be open, firefighters will still be there answering questions.
"Even though we cannot allow people into the station, we can talk across tables and issue people with all the material they need to prepare their properties," Mr Dunn said.
"Unfortunately the kids won't be able to get into the trucks and play with the sirens and the lights, but that's just a one-off.
"Hopefully next year, the kids can climb through the trucks again."
Take the first step in preparing for bushfire, visit myfireplan.com.au
How you can meet with your local RFS brigade:
- The Bonny Hills station at Jungarra Crescent will be open from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.
- The Sancrox/Thrumster Fire Station, 164 Bushland Dr, Sancrox will be open between 10am and 2pm Saturday.
- King Creek Fire Station, 33 Narran Cl, King Creek will be open between 9am and 3.30pm Saturday.
- Wauchope Fire Station, 108 Cameron St, Wauchope will be open Sunday between 10am and 2pm.
- Visit the Hollisdale crew at IGA Wauchope, Young St, Wauchope on Saturday between 8am and 4pm.
- The Huntingdon crew will be at Huntingdon Public School, 2876 Oxley Hwy, Huntingdon on Saturday between 10am and 2pm.
- The North Shore Brigade will be at Kangaroo Park, 1 Shoreline Dr, Port Macquarie on Saturday between 9am and 12 noon.
- Telegraph Point Fire Station, 3 Mooney St, Telegraph Point will be open Saturday between 10am and 2pm.
- The Johns River crew will be at the Johns River Country Market, 54-56 Johns River Rd, Johns River on October 10 between 9am and 2pm.
- Rollands Plains Fire Station, Rollands Plains Rd, Rollands Plains will be open on November 7 between 9am and 3pm.
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