The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) wants residents to prepare now for the upcoming bushfire season and to save the date for the Get Ready Weekend on Saturday, 21 September and Sunday, 22 September, to meet their local Rural Fire Brigade in The Hills and Hawkesbury.
The Get Ready Weekend is an awareness campaign encouraging property owners to prepare for bushfires.
Many Hills and Hawkesbury brigades will also have activities for kids. To see the Brigades nearest to you, see https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/get-ready.
Both Councils are encouraging the community to be prepared. The NSW RFS is leading the Get Ready Weekend, and landholders are encouraged to prepare bushfire plans, prepare their properties and seek advice from their local brigades.
According to the NSW RFS, preparing for the upcoming bushfire season will not take much time: “It takes five minutes to improve or make a plan that will give your property, your family and yourself the best chance of survival should you be threatened by a bushfire.”
To take the first step in preparing for bushfires, visit myfireplan.com.au.
Meanwhile, the NSW RFS shares the top five actions to make your home safer for the bushfire season:
1. TRIM – Trim overhanging trees and shrubs. This can stop the fire spreading to your home. Remove
material that can burn around your home, such as door mats, wood piles, mulch, leaves, paint, outdoor furniture.
2. MOW – Mow grass and remove the cuttings. Have a cleared area around your home.
3. REMOVE – Remove material that can burn around your home (e.g. Door mats, wood piles, mulch,
leaves, paint, outdoor furniture).
4. CLEAR – Clear and remove all the debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding your home. Burning embers can set your home on fire.
5. PREPARE – Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that will reach all around your home. Make sure you’ve got a reliable source of water.
The Hawkesbury Council offers ongoing support services to our community. See
www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/hch or contact Council on 4560 4444.
Bushfire Household Assessment tool assessmyrisk.rfs.nsw.gov.au and the Australian Fire Danger Rating System https://afdrs.com.au/
As of this writing, Hills RFS Brigades with upcoming events include:
| Brigade | Date | Location | Time |
| Box Hill – Nelson | 22/09/2024 | Ceres Way Reserve, Box Hill | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Glenorie | 21/09/2024 | Woolworths, Glenorie | 9:30 – 14:30 |
| Kellyville | 21/09/2024 | Barry Road Reserve | 13:00 – 15:00 |
| Maroota | 18/09/2024 | Maroota Muster – Maroota School | 9:00 – 16:00 |
| Middle Dural | 21/09/2024 | Middle Dural Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Rouse Hill | 21/09/2024 | Rouse Hill Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Sackville North | 22/09/2024 | Sackville North Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Wisemans Ferry | 29/09/2024 | Taste of Wisemans – Wisemans Ferry Park | 10:00 – 15:00 |
Meanwhile, the Hawkesbury RFS Brigades are as follows:
| Brigade | Date | Location | Time |
| Bilpin | 21/09/2024 | Bilpin Hall Community Markets | 9:00 – 12:00 |
| Blaxlands Ridge | 22/09/2024 | Blaxland Ridge Rural Fire Brigade Station | 11:00 – 16:30 |
| Colo Heights | 22/09/2024 | Colo Heights Rural Fire Brigade Station | 9:00 – 14:00 |
| East Kurrajong | 21/09/2024 | East Kurrajong Rural Fire Brigade Station | 15:00 – 19:00 |
| Ebenezer | 21/09/2024 | Ebenezer Kings Hardware | 8:30 – 15:00 |
| Freemans Reach | 21/09/2024 | Freemans Reach Rural Fire Brigade Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Grose Vale | 28/09/2024 | Bowen Mountain Park | 15:00 – 19:00 |
| Hawkesbury Headquarters | 21/09/2024 | Hawkesbury Head Quarters (Thorley St, South Windsor) | 9:00 – 16:00 |
| Kurrajong | 21/09/2024 | Kurrajong Rural Fire Brigade Station | 9:00 – 15:00 |
| Kurrajong Heights | 21/09/2024 | Kurrajong Heights Rural Fire Brigade Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Lower Portland | 21/09/2024 | Cumberland Reach Reserve | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Oakville | 22/09/2024 | Bona Vista Park in Pitt Town | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| St Albans | 21/09/2024 | St Albans Rural Fire Brigade Station | 10:00 – 13:00 |
| Tennyson | 22/09/2024 | Tennyson Rural Fire Station | 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Wilberforce | 21/09/2024 | Wilberforce Shopping Centre/Village | 7:00 – 14:00 |
