FIRE chiefs are growing increasingly concerned about the number of preventable blazes that are taking hold across the region.
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District 16 Operations Manager Bernie Fradd said there have been at least 134 fires since the start of the Fire Danger Period on November 2 with a significant number due to burn offs that were either unattended or had reignited after people mistakenly thought they were out.
"All of the fires in District 16 since the start of the FDP can be attributed to either old burn offs or high risk farming activities including slashing hay,” he said.
"We are getting a lot of fires, people need to take more care and be aware of what is going on around them.
"Anyone who has done any burning in the last six months, please check the burn, turn them over and make sure they are extinguished.”
Mr Fradd said it is an offence to allow a fire to remain alight during the FDP.
"If it continues at this rate, we will seriously have to look at charging people,” he said.
"Fires such as these come at a significant cost to the community and individuals.
“Fire brigades are not there to clean up after people who don't take enough care with fire.”
Mr Fradd said fire conditions are already six weeks ahead of what they would normally be at this time of year due to high temperatures and low rainfall.
