Stop thinking “it won’t happen to me”: Firefighter veteran’s warning for North Shore residents

Sydney’s North Shore faces an increasing risk of severe bushfires due to climate change and high fuel loads, according to veteran firefighter Greg Mullins. In an interview with the North Shore Lorikeet, Mullins warned that worsening weather conditions and a lack of hazard reduction burning have heightened the fire threat in the region.

The north shore’s growing fire danger

Greg Mullins, who served as NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner from 2003 to 2017, said Sydney’s climate is becoming more conducive to large-scale fires as a result of being “windier, drier and hotter”, similar to those experienced in California, Greece, and Maui. In 2024, the NSW Rural Fire Service warned that climate change was creating longer and more intense fire seasons.

While the North Shore has in the past been less vulnerable due to larger property sizes compared to the denser western suburbs, the changing environment means residents should not be complacent.

“We are seeing a trend of worsening extreme weather,” Mullins said. “One day, the fuel will burn, and if that happens on a catastrophic fire weather day, we will lose homes—and probably lots of them.”

Mullins pointed out that although the Black Summer fires of 2019–2020 largely spared the North Shore, several years of wet weather have prevented necessary hazard reduction burns. This has led to a buildup of dry vegetation, creating an increased fire risk once conditions dry out.

Past fires and future threats

Historically, the North Shore has not been immune to major bushfires. Mullins recalled the 1994 fires, which severely impacted Lane Cove valley and the Northern Beaches.

“We lost 17 homes in Lane Cove valley, and dozens more were damaged. Fires came right into suburbia,” he said.

The 2009 Black Saturday fires demonstrated how a worsening climate can supercharge bushfires. In this instance it resulted in the introduction of a new “catastrophic” fire danger rating: “We had to introduce this [new category] because it’s often windier, drier and hotter, and therefore you get more intense fires,” Mullins said.

He added that a fire on Monday in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Terrey Hills served as a reminder that the threat is ever-present. The fire, suspected to be deliberately lit, took hours to control despite cooler autumn weather.

How can North shore residents prepare for bushfires?

Mullins stressed that relying solely on emergency services is not enough. “When the weather gets bad, there won’t be enough fire trucks,” he warned. Instead, residents in fire-prone areas must take proactive steps to reduce their personal risk:

• Clear flammable materials: Remove wood piles, dry leaves, and other combustible items from yards and gutters throughout the fire season.

• Have a bushfire survival plan: Decide in advance whether to stay and defend or evacuate on high-risk days.

• Be aware of fire danger ratings: On catastrophic fire days, leaving the area for a safer location may be the best option.

• Join local fire response groups: Volunteering with the Rural Fire Service or community fire units can provide crucial knowledge and resources. Mullins emphasised that preparation is key.

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“People need to stop thinking, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ It could - and it did in 1994,” he said.

He urged North Shore residents to stay vigilant and take action now ahead of Sydney’s potentially dangerous fire season next summer.

“Prepare, prepare, prepare,” were his parting words to the Lorikeet. “Because you might not have a fire truck turn up when you need one.”

For more information, residents can consult local fire services or read Mullins’ book, Firestorm, on the changing nature of bushfires and climate change.

Image thumbnail credit: Museum of Fire (left), Matt Palmer/Unsplash (right)