00:02We saw one of the warmest winters on record,
00:05but now what we're starting to see as well
00:07is that being combined now with some very strong westerly winds.
00:11So we are seeing some elevated fire danger across New South Wales,
00:14even in the past basically 48 hours.
00:17We've seen an influx of fires in the landscape as well,
00:21just over 40 fires now burning across New South Wales.
00:23So we are monitoring it closely.
00:25We are concerned at least over the next 24 to 48 hours
00:29where we could see some extreme fire danger,
00:31some of the first extreme fire danger for this fire season.
00:33But look, our crews are ready,
00:35but we're also asking landholders just to ensure that their plans are in place.
00:38But importantly as well,
00:39if they have conducted any hazard reduction burns on their properties
00:43over the last few days to go and check them
00:44because we don't want to see them escalate in this fire,
00:47whether we're currently experiencing across New South Wales.
00:50Coming out of that warm winter,
00:51we were fortunate in some areas that we did see a little bit of rainfall.
00:55And look, that's led to actually some really good crop growth
00:58in some parts of New South Wales.
01:00But at this stage, working with the Bureau,
01:02they are saying that the spring,
01:03we are likely to see times of elevated fire danger.
01:06That was reflected in our fire outlook
01:09where we are expecting to see some places
01:11in the northwest of New South Wales
01:13and then also down the south coast
01:15to see some higher activity during the spring period.
01:19But at this stage as well,
01:20El Nino and the Pacific is one element.
01:22We're also closely monitoring what's going on in the Indian Ocean.
01:25There's some very warm waters that are still allowing
01:28at least some moisture to filter in to parts of Australia.
01:31And that in turn is, I think,
01:33starting to make the outlook towards then the back end of spring
01:36and maybe early summer.
01:37There is a potential for some wetter than average conditions.
01:40But we know how quickly conditions can change.
01:43There are a couple of other elements
01:44that we're always looking at as well.
01:46We saw it last year with that rapid heating in the atmosphere
01:48that can drive fire danger and drive increased risk.
01:51So what we want people to understand is no matter what the outlook,
01:55we are now moving into that traditional fire season.
01:57We all need to be prepared.
01:59And then that way as well,
02:01we're in the best possible position
02:02whenever the weather throws at us.
