Lower Hunter firefighters have battled their way through more than 1700 triple-zero calls this financial year, including 774 in the Cessnock local government area alone.
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The scorching hot conditions have led to one of the busiest years on record for emergency call outs, despite the fact that the larger fires that ravaged Kurri Kurri and Karuah only counted as one call each.
Lower Hunter RFS manager Superintendent Jayson McKellar said the zone responded to an average of 1500 to 2000 calls per financial year.
There have already been 1712 calls made this financial year, which will continue until the end of June.
While only 13 per cent of the calls were made in the Maitland area, the effect has been felt by local brigades.
East Maitland RFS captain Jasmine Farraway said they usually received 100 to 110 calls per financial year. She said 120 calls had already been made in the 2016/17 financial year.
“That’s pretty much reflected over the majority of the zone,” Mr McKellar said.
Mr McKellar said crews were busy right from the start of the financial year. He said a few hazard reduction burns completed by members of the public in winter got out of control due to the dry conditions.
Larger fires then hit Seaham and Cessnock in November and December.
Then came the stretch of fires around the Kurri area through January, some of which carried on for days at a time.
Mr McKellar said while the Kurri fires weren’t necessarily the biggest, the proximity to homes was a big concern.
For this reason, the superintendent said it was amazing to come out of the season with zero fatalities and just one home lost across the zone.
“It’s a real testament to the brigades and the firefighters out there,” he said.
Mr McKellar said hazard reduction burns as well as regular maintenance of fire breaks and trails before summer helped firefighters protect homes and residents.
He also paid tribute to the employers and families of volunteers who offered great support throughout the intense season.
“While they’re not on the front line, the work they do is fantastic,” he said.
“We’re very, very grateful.”
Mr McKellar said the recent wet weather had been helpful in regrowing vegetation, and said another 70 to 80mm of rain should bring bush and grassland back to where it should be.