With the driest July since 2002, and the Bush Fire Danger Period starting last Friday, a month earlier than usual, District Manager of the Blue Mountains NSW Rural Fire Service, Superintendent David Jones, said everyone in the region should feel confident of what to do in advance of a bushfire, not when it’s at the doorstep.
He said families needed to better understand bushfires and get together to discuss what they will do if faced with urgent decisions about property and life.
“You cannot schedule a bushfire. Given the topographical challenges and with most residences on ridge lines with good fuel loadings surrounding them, we encourage all residents to have in place a bush fire survival plan,” he said.
Supt. Jones said the Bushfire Building Conference & Community Forum this month at The Springwood Hub is the ultimate event for obtaining the most accurate information to form the best possible plan.
This Saturday's event, held annually by Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE) in partnership with the NSW Rural Fire Service, is all about helping people living in bushfire-prone areas be as well prepared as possible.
The award-winning free event combines a Community Forum and industry Expo to give locals – and especially those considering building or renovating – all the information they need about living and building or renovating in a bushfire-prone area.
The Community Forum will cover a range of topics presented by the NSW RFS, bush fire researchers, specialist product suppliers and local builders and landscapers. Topics include:
- Surviving Bushfires – NSW RFS
- Update on the 2017 Fire Season – NSW RFS
- Why Do Houses Burn Down? - Justin Leonard - Bushfire Urban Design, CSIRO
- DIY Landscaping for Bushfire Protection
- Renovating, Retrofitting & Extending in Bushfire Prone Areas – Expert Panel
- Showcase of Local BAL-FZ & BAL-40 Homes
Alongside the Forum will be an Expo with exhibitors ranging from the NSW RFS and Blue Mountains City Council to bushfire consultants and specialist suppliers of bushfire-resistant building products and safety solutions.
Enjoy a free sausage sizzle and the kids can check out NSW RFS firefighting equipment, explore a mobile playground and join in a range of other kids’ activities while you attend the Forum and Expo.
The event will run this Saturday between 10am and 3pm at the Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, 106-108 Macquarie Rd, Springwood. Details: www.bmee.org.au/community-forum and www.facebook.com/bushfirebuildingconference/
