Despite rain across the Mid Coast over the past week, fire permits remain suspended.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Rural Fire Service use a tool called the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. It's a numerical value and it is reflecting that the dryness of the top layer of soil, deep forest litter, logs and living vegetation remains very high.
The KBDI is expressed as a scale from 0-200, with most areas of the Mid Coast measuring greater than 140.
Soil moisture content determines the level of drought affecting vegetation and organic matter in the upper layer of mineral soils and throughout the profile of organic soils.
The KBDI provides a guide to fire managers of the flammability of organic material on and in the soil surface that can impact their ability to put out bushfires.
Stuart Robb from the Rural Fire Service says it takes a significant amount of rain for the index to drop.
"We use the index as a guide to the fire conditions across the district and when they are high like that, we review permits, and although some areas have had significant rain, permits will remain suspended until the index has dropped," he said.
"Yesterday, (Wednesday February 26) Kempsey was 177, Port Macquarie was 160. The only area low at the moment is Mount Seaview. So despite Taree getting 12 mm over the last five days, the index is still reflecting significantly high," added Mr Robb.
Fire permits were suspended in this area on Wednesday January 2 due to higher temperatures and strong winds.
Information on the current Fire Danger Ratings for your area can be found at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fdr or on the Mid Coast RFS Facebook page.
For further information, contact the Mid Coast Fire Control Centre on 1 300 643 262 or visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au