Delungra Rural Fire Brigade

01/06/2026

Today, 1 June is Smoke Alarm Action Day, where we encourage everyone to test the smoke alarms in their homes.

Be smart and take part, the seconds you use to test your smoke alarm could be the seconds that save your life.

For more information or help with a free safety visit to your home, contact our friends at Fire and Rescue NSW. To request a free safety visit, check out their website: www.fire.nsw.gov.au/visits

26/05/2026

Planning to burn? You must notify RFS.

Landowners in Tenterfield, Glen Innes, and Inverell Rural Fire Districts who undertake vegetation pile burns after 31 March each year, do not require a fire safety permit - however you still have an obligation to notify the RFS and your neighbours at least 24 hours before you commence burning.

Visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and click on the NOTIFY portal. Significant fines can apply for not complying with these conditions.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast for your local area. Bush and grass fires still occur in Autumn and Winter if conditions are conducive to the ignition and spread of fire. One ember can end it.

Contact your local brigade for assistance or advice.

14/05/2026

As we move into the colder months, fire agencies often see an increase in house fires as residents use their fireplaces and heaters to stay warm. With temperatures dropping and possible snow forecast across parts of the state in the coming days, it’s important you know how to stay safe.

Remember, you won’t smell smoke while you’re asleep, so make sure your bleeping smoke alarms are working. A working smoke alarm can save your life and give you and your family valuable time to escape a burning home.

04/05/2026

28/03/2026

The statutory bushfire danger period for all local government ares in Northern Tablelands, ends at midnight on March 31.

Landowners in Tenterfield, Glen Innes, and Inverell Rural Fire Districts who undertake vegetation pile burns after 31 March each year, do not require a fire safety permit - however you still have an obligation to notify the RFS and your neighbours at least 24 hours before you commence burning.

Visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au and click on the NOTIFY portal. Significant fines can apply for not complying with these conditions.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast for your local area. Bush and grass fires still occur in Autumn and Winter if conditions are conducive to the ignition and spread of fire. One ember can end it.

Thank you to our supporters and friends at:
WHAT - What's Happening Around Tenterfield
Tenterfield Shire Council
Tenterfield Star
Fire and Rescue NSW 457 Tenterfield
Friends of Tenterfield Aerodrome
Inverell Shire Council
Inverell Times
NSW SES Inverell Unit
Inverell District and Surrounding Areas
Inverell Freebies
Tenterfield High School
Glen Innes Severn Council
Glen Innes Highlands
Glen Innes Examiner
Fire and Rescue NSW, Station 302 Glen Innes

26/03/2026

TOTAL FIRE BAN 27th March 2026 – INVERELL, GLEN INNES & TENTERFIELD LGAs

Extreme Fire Danger Rating = Zero Tolerance for Fires

The NSW Rural Fire Service has declared a Total Fire Ban for the Inverell, Glen Innes and Tenterfield Local Government Areas (LGA) due to an Extreme Fire Danger Conditions — meaning fire conditions are highly dangerous and any fire could spread rapidly.

❌ What you cannot do
Under a Total Fire Ban you MUST NOT:
• Light, maintain or use any fire in the open air (this includes campfires, bonfires or open burn-offs)
• Carry out any activity that may start a fire — like welding, grinding, slashers, harvesters or machinery likely to spark
• Use wood or charcoal barbecues / pizza ovens (solid fuel)
• Discard ci******es, matches or other fire-starting material on the ground or out of vehicle windows

✅ What you can do
Use gas or electric barbecues only if:
• A responsible adult is present at all times
• Clear of combustible materials within 2 metres
• You have water or extinguisher immediately available nearby

Fines & penalties
Breaching a Total Fire Ban is taken very seriously:
• On-the-spot fine: ~$2,200 for lighting a fire
• Court penalties: Up to $5,500 and/or 12 months’ jail for starting a fire
• Discarding a cigarette during ban: fines can double
• If a fire escapes and causes damage, fines and penalties are much higher — up to $132,000 and/or years in prison depending on circumstances

Important
Total Fire Bans are in place to protect lives, property, animals and our beautiful environment. Please obey the ban, check your Bush Fire Survival Plan, and stay informed via the NSW RFS website if conditions change.

For more information on what you can and cannot do during a Total Fire Ban, visit https://shorturl.at/nKGsO

07/03/2026

Firefighter Fun Fact Friday – You Can’t Outrun a Fire
Not even close.
How fast can fires actually move?
Research shows that established bushfires typically spread between 0.3 km/h and 10.5 km/h, depending on wind and fuel conditions.

Grassfires are a different story. They are the fastest-moving type of fire we face.
Grassfires can travel up to 25 km/h and can surge even faster in short bursts.

Could Usain Bolt outrun one?
Usain Bolt’s top speed is about 44 km/h, so yes, he could outrun some fire fronts for a very short distance on perfectly flat ground. But a bushfire isn’t a 100‑metre track event.

Fires: accelerate uphill, change direction suddenly with the wind, shower embers ahead of the main front and don’t slow down, get tired, or stop for breath.

Even in the Natimuk fire in Victoria, flames covered 10 km in under an hour, about 10 km/h, too fast for anyone to escape on foot.

Bolt might win the first few seconds, but the fire wins the long game every time.

The real message: Leave early
The safest plan is always to leave early.

Once a fire is moving, conditions deteriorate quickly, and roads can become dangerous or blocked. Fires can outrun warnings, vehicles, and certainly people on foot.
Preparation and early action save lives.

23/02/2026

FIRE PERMITS SUSPENDED – Tuesday 24th February until Friday 27th February due to the forecast High Fire Danger, all fire permits in Inverell LGA are suspended from midnight today until Midnight Friday morning.
This measure is being taken to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading under the heightened fire conditions.
If you currently hold a fire permit, you are unable to light new fires or stoke up existing fires during the suspension period. Please ensure any planned burns or activities requiring a permit are postponed.

21/02/2026

FIRE PERMITS SUSPENDED – SUNDAY 22ND February
Due to the forecast High Fire Danger, all fire permits in Inverell LGA are suspended from midnight today until Midnight Monday morning.
This measure is being taken to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading under the heightened fire conditions.
If you currently hold a fire permit, you are unable to light new fires or stoke up existing fires during the suspension period. Please ensure any planned burns or activities requiring a permit are postponed.

06/02/2026

FIRE PERMITS SUSPENDED – FRIDAY 6TH February - MONDAY 9TH February
Due to the forecast High Fire Danger, all fire permits in Inverell LGA are suspended from today until Midnight Monday
This measure is being taken to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading under the heightened fire conditions.
If you currently hold a fire permit, you are unable to light new fires or stoke up existing fires during the suspension period. Please ensure any planned burns or activities requiring a permit are postponed.