Recently appointed Snowy Monaro Rural Fire Service (RFS) district manager, Lachlan Gilchrist, is calling on landholders and residents to start preparing their properties ahead of the bushfire season with dry conditions and increased fuel loads of concern.

Superintendent Gilchrist said the district team and RFS brigades across the region are already planning for a potentially busy season. He said a lack of moisture in grassland areas, particularly along the Monaro Highway corridor between Cooma and Michelago, could mean fire activity starts earlier than usual.

“Fire activity is always a risk during winter on the Monaro. We have seen heavy frosts and very little rainfall this winter, this has sucked the moisture out of the grasslands,” Superintendent Gilchrist said.

“We could expect to see fire activity earlier than normal due to the fuel loads. It’s not unusual to see fire activity in August.

“We have been conducting pre-season planning with brigade captains and our fleet service is well underway.”

In the coming weeks, RFS crews will support landholders in the Bredbo area with hazard reduction burns. Superintendent Gilchrist said the Bredbo and Bombala districts are focus areas leading into the bushfire danger period, which normally starts on 1 October.

“In our risk planning, we have identified Bredbo and Bombala as areas to target with their high grass fuel loads,” Superintendent Gilchrist said.

“Around these areas we have high levels of grassland curing, it’s of concern.”

“We are also targeting the Monaro Highway corridor from Berridale through to the ACT border.”

Superintendent Gilchrist is urging property owners to start thinking ahead.

“Residents can take some important early action by downloading the Hazards Near Me app and preparing or updating their bushfire survival plans,” he said.

“For property owners now is the time to start preparing, be it putting breaks in around your house or slashing.”

“Our community is an important partner in fire safety, by working together we can make a difference.”