BY IAN CROUCH
Hunter landowners and residents are being urged to take precautions to prevent grass fires.
Fire crews across the region have been kept extremely busy in recent weeks attending grass and bush fires thanks to the large fuel load build-up from last year’s heavy rain.
The RFS says grass fires in particular pose the greatest risk because they can break out easily in dry conditions and spread rapidly.
It comes after crews were called to a bushfire off the M1 at West Wallsend on Monday afternoon and separate grass fires at Boolaroo and Jesmond overnight.
Thankfully, none of these fires posed any direct threat to property.
Residents are urged to keep lawns mowed and grass areas slashed to reduce the fire risk.