The Government has announced a 3.6 per cent increase in funding to the Rural Fire Service across the State, including Wingecarribee Shire.

Labor MLC Peter Primrose said the Southern Highlands would receive $7.6 million this year.

Ms Seaton said the increased funding would do little more than keep pace with inflation.

"We have had more than a 3.6 per cent increase in bushfires in the area," she said.

"We still have local brigades needing equipment and the catering unit, where I help out when there's a bushfire, needs an upgrade."

Ms Seaton said the Government's funding should represent the dramatic increase in the local area.

Wingecarribee RFS fire control officer Ashley Frank said local residents needed to tread carefully this weekend, as fire danger was likely to remain very high to extreme.

He reminded residents the bushfire season would officially start on Wednesday and said gusty, erratic winds forecast for this weekend meant it would not be good conditions for controlled burns.

"If possible, don't light any fires while we're experiencing dry, windy conditions," Supt Frank said.

"The RFS this week has had a large number of calls to escaped private burns which have all been contained due to the quick response of fire crews."