FIRES at Lower Valley Creek, Cathedral Rock and Tingha over the long weekend are believed to have been lit deliberately

It is alleged the fires were deliberately lit and a police investigation is ongoing.

Superintendent Steve Mepham from the NSW Rural Fire Service said that if these fires were lit on purpose the individuals involved needed to realise how quickly and easily fires can get out of control.

“People need to realise how serious this can be, it’s not a game, you’re playing Russian roulette with people’s property and in the worst case scenario, with people’s lives,” he said.

“They need to realise that there is a significant danger, especially if we don’t have the resources or the manpower at the time.

“In this case the property owners at Lower Creek Valley have had their grazing areas damaged, the cattle on these properties can no longer be fed with grass and this is going to be an ongoing financial burden on these people,” he said.

Superintendent Mepham said that despite the appearance of green, wet ground, the area is still prone to fire activity.

“It can be deceiving, the ground appears wet and there has been a fair bit of rainfall but when this is combined with wind there is still a danger of fire,” he said.

Superintendent Mepham warned community members to ensure that they have a workable bushfire survival plan in place.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of a bushfire survival plan, when you have 50, 70, even up to 90 kilometre winds rushing through an area a fire can spread quickly,” he said.

“People should discuss a plan with their families to make sure they are prepared in the event that a bushfire threatens their home.

“It’s important to take action now.”