Are you bush fire ready?

This is my hood. The beautiful, majestic World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park.

There are so many wonderful things about this place from being surrounded by trees making the air always fresh & clean, to the vibe you get just by being around this much nature.

I love the sound of all the birds, from the tiny little chirps that's just ridiculous cute to the kookaburras loud laughter that always manages to tug a tired smile from me even though I'm thinking shut up its too damn early.

I love where I live but I'm scared of where I live.

No. It's not gangster hood or anything else sinister, although the gossip is, there's an ice epidemic in Katoomba. Everywhere else seems to be it's usual chill friendly vibe. We don't even see our cops much and when we do they're great to chat with. They like to muck around with you - they reckon they got jokes.

Like the officer who told me there's no bathrooms in The Gearin Hotel on Winterfest Night when I was busting. Must have looked like I was about to cry cos he laughed in my face and pointed behind him to the ladies. Gave him the filthiest look.

Cheers mate. I have logged your mug into my database. I won't be forgetting you any time soon.

Yeh. Cops you don't see much. We're that chill over here. The majority of people somehow manages to do the right thing by each other so our cops have time to mess around and joke. .. Yep. Looking right at you Officer 😜

The RFS (Rural Fire Service) though. They are everywhere in the community.

Here's the one I spotted at the Lawson Markets a few weeks ago.

While there is no cop shop at every suburb in the mountains, there sure as hell is an RFS. Every suburb from the foot of the mountains all the way up to the top has an RFS (well almost..)

This is how serious we are about bush fires and safety of the community.

The RFS (Rural Fire Service)

On 1 September 1997, the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) was established by an Act of Parliament (the Rural Fires Act 1997) as the successor to the Bush Fires Act, redefining the world's largest fire service and building on a century of experience in protecting some of the most fire-prone areas on earth.

Today the NSW RFS comprises over 2,100 rural fire brigades with a total volunteer membership of approximately 72,000. In addition, over 900 staff members are employed to manage the day to day operations of the Service at District Fire Control Centres, Regional Offices, Customer Service Centres, Operational and Mitigation Support Service bases and Headquarters at Lidcombe.

Source: RFS NSW - https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/structure

This season has been dry. We didn't get a lot of rainfall and right now I can feel how crisp the ground is, coupled with the dry and very windy conditions.... I won't lie. It is a concern.

Especially since I don't drive and if something happens and Hubby's not home I need to be able to grab Fluffy and go. Things are just things but still... there's a few things I need to make sure I pack in my emergency bag like...

My grandmother's engagement ring. (The only thing I have from my mum's mum who crossed over when I was 6 years old.), Photos, Paperwork, Jewelry, Laptop and possibly the PS4 (don't judge me)

So what else can you do to get bush fire season ready?

Be aware of Total Fire Ban days.

DON'T BE A TOSSER!!!!

.. And most of all.. Always be prepared.

This will be my third spring/summer in the mountains praying for a safe bush fire season, so far so good but still... I would appreciate everyone's prayers as Australia goes into, what's looking like a killer Summer.

💗 Arly

Sources:
1- http://pixabay.com
2- https://web.facebook.com/RFSBlueMountainsDistrict/
3- https://web.facebook.com/nswpoliceforce/
4- https://www.youtube.com/user/NSWRFS
5- https://twitter.com/NSWRFS