Firies respond to unexpected blaze

Firefighters from three different NSW Rural Fire Service brigades extinguished a blaze at a Deniliquin property on Sunday which senior officers allege was lit without the necessary permission.

The Mid-Murray RFS says it did not have a permit application on file for the Lindifferon Rd property’s burn.

Firefighters from the Deniliquin, Wandook and Birganbigil brigades were notified of a fire in the area about 12.23pm and it took them almost two hours to fully extinguish the flames.

The fire had burned about 10 hectares of land.

RFS Inspector Doug Adamson said the fire was lit just four days after the start of the Bush Fire Danger Period in the Mid-Murray zone.

‘‘Anybody wishing to light a fire on their property during the Bush Fire Danger Period will require a permit from their local brigade or Fire Control Centre,’’ Insp Adamson said.

‘‘People burning with a fire permit must comply with standard permit conditions. However, even with a permit you need to check whether a Total Fire Ban is in force before lighting any fires.’’ Conditions include:

● Notifying your neighbours at least 24 hours prior to burning;

● Notifying the RFS via the NOTIFY portal on the RFS Website – www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify — 24 hours prior to burning;

● Notifying your local brigade captain on each day you burn;

● Installing fire breaks and having firefighting equipment in working order on site;

● A responsible person must be in attendance while the fire is alight; and

● Only grass and stubble is to be burnt, no timber.

Insp Adamson said fines in excess of $1000 may apply to non-permitted burns. He said investigations continue in relation to the weekend’s blaze.

For more information, or to apply for a permit, go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or phone the Mid-Murray Zone office on 5898 4100.