NSW declares bushfire season starting Oct. 1 due to above-average rainfall increasing fuel risk.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has declared the bushfire season starting October 1 in Lower Western regions, citing above-average rainfall forecasts that may increase fire fuel. The CFA in Victoria is urging landowners to register burn-offs online to prepare for spring fires. In a separate incident, Tasman Blackman, 27, admitted to setting three bushfires near Merbein during high-risk summer conditions, acknowledging the potential for fatal outcomes. Meanwhile, the Wentworth Shire Council is evaluating plans for a second playing field at the Carramar Drive Sporting Complex in Gol Gol.