Members of the Rural Fire Service will be out attempting to educate families this weekend as part of a campaign to prepare the community for bush fire season.
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The Hanwood RFS will be holding a station open day on Saturday as part of a state-wide Get Ready weekend, a campaign which aims to help community members prepare for the Bush Fire Danger Period, which will commence on October 1 in the Murrumbidgee region.
Hanwood RFS Senior Deputy Captain Adam Bertolissi said the campaign is attempting to spread knowledge of the risks fires can pose.
"Embers can go up to five to 10 kilometres," Mr Bertolissi said.
"That puts most houses in Griffith at risk if there was a fire in the hills.
"It's important that everyone knows the risks if there is a big fire."
The Hanwood brigade are aiming to draw in the entire family for the day, with face painting and access to the trucks available for the children and live fire safety demonstrations and tours of the station on offer for teenagers and adults.
Mr Bertolissi said it is important to bring both children and adults in so preparation and education can reach people of all ages.
"It's important to have a plan because you can teach your kids if there is a house fire they know what to do," he said.
"They know to get out, they know to shut the doors.
"It's about trying to push awareness to make it safer for the families as well."
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Members of the Hanwood RFS will also be showcasing the new additions to the station, which have been added after the station received a grant from the state government to expand the dressing rooms and the garage.
Mr Bertolissi said the expansion was done almost entirely by members of the service and will allow for more volunteers to join the brigade and speed up the brigade's response to callouts.
The event comes as the RFS begins preparations for the Bush Fire Danger Period, with the service issuing a reminder stating those wishing to light a fire in the open after October 1 will need to acquire a permit.
NSW RFS Superintendent Kevin Adams said members of the community should also notify their neighbours and the Fire Control Centre if they choose to burn timber or prunings.
"We urge all residents in the MIA District to be vigilant and extremely careful with fire leading up to and during the Bush Fire Danger Period," he said.
Mr Bertolissi said the best way members of the community can be careful during bush fire season is by reporting any fires they see to the service.
"If you see a fire and there is no fire truck there, it doesn't hurt to call triple zero," he said.
The open day will run from 11am to 2pm on Saturday at the Hanwood RFS station.
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