Medowie Rural Fire Service (RFS) community engagement team member Gavin Smith said that the drier than normal past few months had elevated the risk of an early start to the bushfire season.

Mr Smith said that it was not surprising to learn that the NSW RFS had commenced the bushfire danger period on August 1 in 10 local government areas across the northern and western parts of the State, due to prevailing dry conditions.

“While Port Stephens was not on this list, personally I'd be surprised if it wasn't brought forward to early September,” Mr Smith said.

“It is therefore important that residents check or update their bushfire survival plans.

“We will be embarking on a comprehensive community awareness program and the RFS website has plenty of information about preparing your home for bushfire season.”

Mr Smith said that the threat of ember attack was one of the issues people often overlooked.

“Hot embers can travel for kilometres in front of the actual fire and if your home isn't prepared, embers can be ignited by catching leaf litter in your gutters, cracks in roof tiles or rubbish around your property.

“If you are not sure what to do, you should download a Bush Fire Survival Plan from the RFS website which walks you through the whole process of preparing your property and what to do if there is a fire in your area.”

NSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said that a number of factors, including local fuel conditions, were considered before declaring a variation to the statutory danger period that commences on October 1.

“The State is experiencing extremely dry conditions and it is a worrying sign, especially given we have only received half of the average rainfall during winter and no meaningful rain is forecast in the next few months,” Deputy Commissioner Rogers said.

“Conditions along the coast and especially west of the ranges are drier than average, which is of great concern leading into the bushfire season, especially given firefighters have attended 525 bush or grass fires in the past week alone.”

Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said that despite current cold temperatures across the state, now was the time for residents and land managers to start preparing for the threat of bushfire.

“This means doing really simple things like cleaning your gutters, removing combustibles from your yard, ensuring hoses can reach all corners of your property and completing or updating your bush fire survival plan.”

The RFS will be holding its annual Get Ready weekend on September 22-23, where local RFS brigades will be throwing open their doors to the public and providing lots of information, displays and kids activities.

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