The threat of a bushfire event at Mt Arthur in the future does exist and just because there has never been a major fire there, doesn't mean it won't happen Rural Fire Service Operations officer Laurie Douglas told councillors and members of the Mount Arthur Reserve Trust.
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"We are not being alarmist but not having a plan for an event is not good and we want to community to be educated and have a plan in place," Officer Douglas said.
"People do pay lip service to bushfire plans but then they sometimes forget," he said.
"No white man has seen a fire at Mt Arthur but that doesn't mean there is not a risk."
Officers from the Rural Fire Service Laurie Douglas and Bon Conran showed a packed council chambers a direction a fire could take on a 38 degree day with north westerly winds of 30kph and a curing of 100 per cent.
"Just a normal summer's day," Officer Douglas said.
Using Google maps with world leading technology the officers on a big screen showed how quickly a fire could break into Mt Arthur and make its way toward Wellington.
The technology showed images of a five-hour period and how 'out of control' could envelope a wide area of the local government area.
The Phoenix model technology has been used in the Blue Mountains, Victorian and Coonabaraban fires to give expert analysis based on weather conditions like wind, humidity, fuel loading and where fires occur and alsoit assisted firefighters.
"Phoenix is a huge step forward for us by allowing us to plan very quickly ahead," a RFS spokesperson said. "A map is created which the fire behaviourist analyses before it is sent to the incident controllers to plan."
Officer Douglas explained forces would be mobilised from rural fire services brigades in the LGA such as Ponto, Mt Arthur, Geurie, Wuuluman, Curra Creek, Bournewood, Dripstone, Neurea initially and also from Dubbo and Orange .
"When the cave's fire happened, services were here within 50 minutes from Orange," Officer Douglas said.
Emergency services officer for Wellington Council Bryson Rees said in October a community and educational workshop would be held to discuss plans for an event . While he stressed the community should not be alarmed at all "it is a real possibility".
Wellington's mayor said they had to be as ready as they could be.
"It's not an if, it's a when," he said.
The Rural Fire Service was working to minimise the risk by creating fire trails at the mountain and will go into the area next week to inspect areas where there may be danger. Next month the Rural Fire Service is holding a promotion and is encouraging communities to hold an event where they can discuss their plans for fire prevention.
The Get Ready Event will be held on October 18 and 19.
''What's important is that conversations are being started, connections are being created and Bush Fire Survival Plans are being thought through. The next step is action.
If you get outside this weekend and do some simple jobs such as mowing the lawn, cutting overhanging branches and clearing your gutters you are increasing your property's chances of surviving a bush fire this summer.'' a spokesperson for the Rural Fire Service said.
