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Bushfire Season moves to Central Australia

Bushfires NT

Bushfires NT (BFNT) has today joined the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) at their Alice Springs headquarters to announce the commencement of the 2020-21 Central Australian Fire Danger Period.

The Northern Territory is expecting normal bushfire potential this central Australian fire season, however, significant bushfires have occurred in similar conditions, and even areas of normal fire potential can expect to experience dangerous bushfires.

Bushfires NT has prepared for this fire season by partnering and engaging with landowners across central Australia to identify and where possible mitigate bushfire risk.

It’s important the community know how to source and understand the three levels of warnings and what they mean.

The three levels of warnings are Advice, Watch and Act and Emergency Warning. Do not expect warnings to be issued in any particular order, the first warning you could get could be an Emergency Warning.

If you do hear a warning, stay calm, stop what you are doing and pay attention.

This year’s Fire Danger Period is in the part of the Territory that lies south of the 21st parallel of south latitude (starting approximately 146kms south of Tennant Creek).

Quotes by Chief Fire Control Officer, Andrew Turner.

“Bushfires are a part of life in the Territory, but you can prepare in advance to help to save lives, assets and the environment.”

“Now is the time to ensure you and your property are ready for a bushfire.

“Plan and prepare now. Fires are dangerous, and despite reduced fuel loads due to the ongoing dry conditions, fires moved quickly and present challenges to fire crews working to contain them.

“Landholders working together to reduce bushfire risk by implementing their property fire Management Plan is absolutely essential.

“We warn the community over a variety of platforms, including online, social media and ABC local radio, commercial and designated community radio stations.

“Landholders need to develop a property fire management plan, reduce grass and shrub growth from around your home and buildings, make sure all firefighting equipment is in good working order and that fire access trails within your property are clear and usable to allow firefighting appliances clear and safe access.”

NTFRS and BFNT have an excellent working relationship and will be working closely to ensure that any outbreak of fire is dealt with in a co-ordinated manner.

People should call 000 to report any fire activity and if you see, hear or know about suspicious activity relating to illegal fires then call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Go to www.nt.gov.au/bushfires for more information about Bushfires NT or www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Fire-and-Rescue for more information about the NTFRS.

For the latest information on fires and warnings visit https://bushfires.nt.gov.au/incidentmap or follow Bushfires NT on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BushfiresNT

Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security Media Manager: 0476 844 832

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