Mr Porter said the fire risk was growing not just in the depths of the Murray Valley National Park between Deniliquin and Mathoura but the ‘‘often not maintained’’ Regional Parks more closely surrounding the towns and a range of recreational facilities.
‘‘If someone was to drop a match in there, it would take off,’’ he said.
‘‘Even a lightning strike could start a fire. It is just a time bomb waiting to go off.”
As the bushfire crisis grips the nation, Mr Porter believes little is being done to reduce the risk of a disastrous blaze which could easily surround Mathoura and Deniliquin.
Mr Porter said debris build-up in the regional parks was ‘‘concerning’’.
‘‘It is too late when it comes to burning things off this season, but perhaps we need to look at doing that in winter,” he said.
‘‘It (the forest) has not been maintained in years, especially since they stopped grading the tracks three or four years ago, so the forest floor is built up with solid fuels.
‘‘All we can do this season is urge people to take care. Do do not throw your cigarette butts out there or light any fires.
‘‘There are signs at the entrances of the forests, so heed their warnings before something serious develops.’’
Mid-Murray Rural Fire Service Inspector Doug Adamson agreed following the rules and taking extra precautions was the best chance to avoid devastation.
‘‘There is a fire risk in our forests and parks almost all the time, fire is a natural part of our landscape,’’ he said.
‘‘National parks is responsible for monitoring conditions in the national parks, but we at the RFS are fully aware of it too.
‘‘The risk changes with every season and varies from year to year depending on the season.
‘‘The RFS simply recommends that people follow rules and regulations that are already in place.’’
National Parks and Wildlife Service said it was continuously working with local services and emergency teams to monitor the risk and rectify issues as they arose.
‘‘NPWS works closely with the NSW RFS, Fire and Rescue NSW, Forestry Corporation and Water NSW, neighbours of national parks and the community to reduce bushfire risk across our parks and make decisions on the location, size and frequency of hazard reduction burns conducted in parks, in the appropriate season,’’ a spokesperson said.
‘‘People should visit the RFS website for information in relation to preparing for the fire season.
‘‘Everyone should have a plan even where they do not live near forests and maintain awareness of current fire activity.’’
Earlier this fire season, NPWS said a number of fire preparation days had been held to ensure staff and equipment were ready for the season ahead.
They also conducted 80-100 km of ‘‘strategic fire trail maintenance’’ within local reserves.
It was at the same time, in late November, NPWS admitted its last fuel load assessment in the local forests was carried out in 2016.
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