NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) warns of another bushfire crisis in the Macleay region

Supt Lachlann Ison said he still holds real concerns for the coastal locations of the Macleay region, where there is a particularly strong risk of bushfire flare-ups.

While the region recently received some rain, the bushfire danger period still has two months to go.

Supt Ison compared the coastal areas of Hat Head, Crescent Head and South West Rocks as having similar terrain to the coast locations near Port Macquarie and Taree.

Supt Ison said there's a real danger, that a clone of the Crestwood-Lake Cathie fire, which caused havoc for firefighters near Port Macquarie, could occur in the Macleay region.

Supt Ison said many firefighters have been impacted by the unprecedented fire conditions, recently witnessed in the region.

Some of the region's firefighters have 40 years of experience notched up, while others have just three or four months.

"It didn't matter how much experience they had, none of the firefighters had ever experienced these fire conditions before," Supt Ison said.

November 8, 2019 is a day which will forever stick in Supt Ison's mind as being one where the control centre was drowning in triple zero calls.

The events leading up to the catastrophic day, culminated in a number of fires combining and wiping out many properties in their path.

Supt Ison said firefighters were forced to prioritise their safety, even though many expressed their frustration at wanting to do more to help.

Historically, Supt Ison said the control centre has been able to draw resources from Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.

However, on November 8 the firefighters from these areas had their own blazes to battle at the same time.

Supt Ison said fire conditions and the lack of rainfall made for the perfect storm.

"Fire burnt in areas it had never burnt in before," he said

Supt Ison recalls on November 8 the dial indicating fire danger was already at extreme at 11.30am in the morning.

Firefighters were expecting unfavourable conditions, but could not have predicted the catastrophic nature of the fires which came to fruition.

"We were keeping a particularly close eye on the Carrai fire as it approached the Bellbrook village and surrounds during the early afternoon," Supt Ison said.

"However it was actually Willawarrin that wore the full brunt of the fire first."

Supt Ison said there was obviously some level of frustration expressed by many residents on the day.

"However, under the conditions experienced there was no way we could get a truck to every call, particularly in the more remote locations," he said.

"Similarly, the responding crews always have to prioritise their own safety in the first instance."

Supt Ison encourages people to join their local brigade so they can gain a better appreciation of the work that volunteer firefighters do for their community.

"To get a firsthand feel for it," he said.

Meanwhile the The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment has extended the submission deadline for its inquiry into the intensity and frequency of bushfires.

Submissions are invited until March 31, 2020.

Chair of the Committee, Ted O'Brien, said that as the threat and reality of the fires continue for many communities across Australia, the Committee recognises that bushfire affected organisations and individuals need to direct resources to the immediate tasks of response and recovery.

For more information, or to join your local brigade, please visit https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/