Up to 20 NSW councils will advance their bushfire season start dates to September 1, with firefighters warning of an “above-average” risk this year.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says the authorities will follow 22 councils in the state’s northeast that have already opened their bushfire seasons.

Armidale, Byron Bay, Ballina and Coffs Harbour are among authorities that moved their start dates to August 1 from the usual October 1.

The RFS says residents of fire-prone areas must apply for permits to light fires or conduct hazard-reduction burns during the bushfire season. Breaches can incur heavy penalties.

“The Bureau of Meteorology has warned we have a 50-50 chance of an El Nino system occurring this bushfire season,” a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “It’s already very dry across most of the state and the bureau says recent rains won’t make much difference. We would need weeks of sustained rain to make a difference.”