After an "unprecedented" summer, the need for a bushfire survival plan is just as important as ever.
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To help inform the community, NSW Rural Fire Service brigades will host Get Ready Weekend events from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20.
This is ahead of the bushfire danger period, which is due to start on October 1.
"Many of our communities here are still traumatised from their experience with fires that were definitely unprecedented and fire activity that has never been seen in living memory," Inspector Stimson said.
"People may become complacent, thinking 'we've had the fire, we won't have a fire for a long time'. What they don't realise is there's still a lot of unburnt country out there in what we know as the traditional fire paths of many, many years.
Inspector Stimson stressed the importance of bushfire survival plans.
"You must have a conversation with your family. Every single member needs to be involved in the discussion," Inspector Stimson said.
"Circumstances throughout anyone's day can change. Mum might be at the shops, dad might be at work and the kids might be at school.
"You have to look at the full day and talk about who might be affected."
Inspector Stimson urged residents to take the time to prepare their homes.
"You have a responsibility to clean your property up and remove any combustible fuel around the home," he said.
"If your home is not prepared properly, we do not recommend staying and defending in the sense that it's always safer to leave and leave early.
"If you decide to stay and defend, you need to consider whether your home is defendable and more importantly if you are in a state of mind to withstand the trauma of defending your property."
Residents must also familiarise themselves with their neighbourhood safer places.
However these must be considered as places of last resort.
"They are not in every village but you should know whether you have one within your village," Inspector Stimson said.
"You need to know the location of it but more importantly the route to it.
"Neighbourhood safer places are not there as a main destination. They are there, primarily, as a place of last resort."
Where to find your local Get Ready Weekend event:
Alpine/Aylmerton: Visit https://www.facebook.com/NSWRFSAlpineBrigade for the latest information.
Avoca: Avoca Rural Fire Brigade will host several Get Ready Weekend events from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, September 20. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Avoca-Rural-Fire-Brigade-247750029281562 for more information and to RSVP.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, spaces are limited. Social distancing will be observed at the events. Face masks and on-site registration will be mandatory.
Balmoral Village: Visit https://www.facebook.com/Balmoral-Village-New-South-Wales-Rural-Fire-Brigade-209933799078817 for the latest information.
Berrima: Berrima Rural Fire Brigade will set up a display at the fire station on Wilkinson Street on Saturday, September 19 from 10am to 3pm. The fire brigade will also have a display at Berrima Park on Sunday, September 20 from 10am to 3pm.
Bundanoon: Visit https://www.facebook.com/Bundanoon-Rural-Fire-Brigade-1416013568718872 for the latest information.
Burrawang: Burrawang Rural Fire Brigade will run an online, four-week challenge in the lead-up to the bushfire danger period. Visit https://burrawangrfb.org/community-resources/week-one for more information.
Buxton: Buxton Rural Fire Brigade will host a virtual Get Ready Weekend live stream on its Facebook page. Visit https://www.facebook.com/BuxtonRuralFireBrigade for more information.
Canyonleigh: Canyonleigh Rural Fire Service will open its fire shed for coffee and conversations from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, September 19. Residents can meet members, review their fire plans, discuss their options and learn how to prepare their properties.
Colo Vale: Visit https://www.facebook.com/Colo-Vale-Volunteer-Rural-Fire-Brigade-255813807822303 for the latest information.
Exeter: Exeter Rural Fire Brigade intends to host an event in the first week of October. Details will be confirmed closer to the date. Visit https://www.facebook.com/exeterbrigaderfs for more information.
Hill Top: Hill Top Rural Fire Service will open the fire station in West Parade on Saturday, September 19 from 10am to 2pm.
Mandemar: Visit https://www.facebook.com/mandemarrfs for the latest information.
Marulan: Marulan Rural Fire Brigade will host a Get Ready Day at Marulan IGA on Sunday, September 20 from 10am to 2pm. Residents can ask fire-related questions. A member of the brigade is happy to attend residents' properties and give advice on how to prepare for their property for the upcoming fire season. There is no RSVP process.
Mittagong: Visit www.facebook.com/ruralfirebrigademittagong for the latest information.
Moss Vale: Moss Vale Rural Fire Brigade will host a Get Ready Weekend event at the fire station on Berrima Road, Moss Vale from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20. There is no RSVP process.
Penrose: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Penrose Rural Fire Brigade will provide tips on how to prepare for the bushfire danger period on its Facebook page. Visit https://www.facebook.com/PenroseRuralFireBrigade for the latest information.
Pheasants Nest: Pheasants Nest Rural Fire Brigade will host a Get Ready Weekend event at 300 Pheasants Nest Road on Saturday, September 19 from 10am.
Robertson: Visit https://www.facebook.com/RobertsonRFS for the latest information.
Thirlmere: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Thirlmere Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade will host its Get Ready Weekend online. Visit www.facebook.com/thirlmererfs for more information.
Wingello: Wingello Rural Fire Brigade will host a virtual Get Ready Weekend. Visit www.facebook.com/WingelloRuralFireBrigade for a series of comprehensive posts about how residents can prepare for the upcoming bushfire season.
Woodlands: Woodlands Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade invites residents to drive in and pick up a Get Ready Weekend information pack. Head down to the fire station in Woodlands Road between 10am and 1pm on Sunday, September 20.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendees must remain in their vehicles and volunteers will hand out the information packs. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Woodlands-Volunteer-Rural-Fire-Brigade-104895090958914 for more information.
Yanderra: Visit https://www.facebook.com/Yanderra-Volunteer-Rural-Fire-Brigade-1011871688973419 for the latest information.
Yerrinbool: Yerrinbool Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade will inform residents about steps to take before the upcoming bushfire season with a weekly letterbox drop and a social media campaign.
Brigade members also intend to host a face-to-face event on Saturday, September 19. This will be subject to COVID-19 restrictions. Visit https://www.facebook.com/Yerrinbool.RFS for more information.
Note: Information has been provided by individual fire brigades. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, details are subject to change with short notice.