Understanding Bushfire Alerts Could Save Your Life Medowie & Tilligerry News Of The Area Medowie, Ferodale, Campvale Nelson Bay (Tomaree Peninsula areas) Port Stephens LGA Raymond Terrace, Heatherbrae, Tomago by News Of The Area - Modern Media - September 3, 2019 Members of Soldiers Point Rural Fire Service at a community education event focusing on being fire ready. Photo by Marian Sampson. WITH bush fire season now in full swing it’s time to take action and to be armed with the right information and a bush fire survival plan. Modern Media: Advertise with News Of The Area and you get your ad in 1) in Print, 2) on the News Website (like this ad), and 3) on our Social Media news site. A much more efficient way to advertise. Reach a HUGE audience for a LOW price TODAY! Call us on 02 4983 2134. Or media@newsofthearea.com.au Or CLICK FOR ADVERT QUOTE Last year in Port Stephens there were multiple bushfires which endangered people and property including the fires within the Mambo Wanda Wetlands. Knowing the alert levels is one place to start making sure your family and property is safe. There are three simple alert levels, the Rural Fire Service advises the status of fires using these alerts. The Advice alert level means that a fire has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes. The Watch And Act alert level means that there is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. This is when you need to use you bush fire survival plan. The Emergency Warning Alert is the highest level of Bush Fire Alert. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk. Dennis Peters, Captain of Raymond Terrace Fire & Rescue NSW told News Of The Area, “If you live on the edge of bush or grass land, clearing your gutters and keeping your yard clear of flammable materials are important ways to prepare for a fire threat.” Our behaviour on a daily basis can cause a fire threat. “An easy way to prevent fires starting is to avoid throwing cigarette butts or other rubbish out of a vehicle. “By being considerate of your surroundings, you can avoid starting a potentially deadly fire,” he said. Being prepared for a bush fire and knowing how your family needs to respond to the various alerts could save lives. If there is a fire that you want to stay up to date on visit fires near me at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me. If there is a fire and you do not need to be in the vicinity stay away, traffic during the Mambo Wanda Wetlands bushfire in 2018, from people wanting to see what was happening, caused additional stress on emergency services. Volunteers from The Rural Fire Services work with the team from Fire and Rescue NSW to keep us safe during bushfires. By Marian SAMPSON