Fire and Rescue NSW are placing water tankers "all over the state" for fire season, as the community scores the first points of this weekend's Australasian Firefighting Championships.
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On Tuesday some of the service's top brass, including regional operations Assistant Commissioner Rob McNeil, were in Tamworth to launch the northern region's home fire safety checks from The Youthie in Coledale.
As firefighters went door to door in the name of safety, Mr McNeil and his colleagues also used the trip for a first-hand look at regional operations and conditions, specifically water availability.
"We have some communities out west that don't have water in their mains, and in other areas water bombers are taking water out of dams," Mr McNeil said.
"We are caught in a bit of a dichotomy, because we have to put fires out, but we trying to be very sensitive about how we go about it, and doing what we can.
"We are parking water tankers all over the state, targeting the most vulnerable regions."
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Those tankers range in size from 3000 litres to 35,000 litres.
There will likely not be one placed in Tamworth, but the West Tamworth 508 already boasts "the future of firefighting" in their compressed air foam (CAF) tanker.
"The difference between putting a fire out with CAF and with water is remarkable," Mr Eckersley said.
"Nine thousand litres of water and 500kg of CAF creates 45,000 litres of firefighting material, and it is biodegradable and safe - it is the future of firefighting, and it saves water."
Next month Tamworth will host the Australiasian Firefighting Championships, which will not only attract 600 people to town, but also attract 30,000 litres of water, which is being trucked in for the event.
Zone Commander Tom Cooper said the water would be recycled via a series of drains and a holding tank under the competition zone.
He estimated 10,000 litres will be used across 15 events and three days.
After the championships, the water "will be used to top up as many local Rural Fire Service tanks as we can".
"The championships are very important to the service," Mr McNeil said.
"The competition is all about how quick we can get fires out, which at the end of the day saves water."
The championships will run October 17-19, and spectators are welcome.
