The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has undertaken a hazard reduction burn in Pilliga West State Conservation Area (SCA), north-west of Baradine, and south of Pilliga.
The 490 hectare burn was completed in the south east corner of the SCA.
The objectives of the burn were to reduce the risks posed by wildfire, and to maintain a healthy landscape providing suitable habitat for a range of native plants and wildlife.
Weather permitting, the NPWS plans to continue its Autumn hazard reduction burning program over coming months, across a wide area of the North West including Pilliga SCA, Pilliga East SCA, Pilliga West National Park (NP), Merriwindi SCA, Trinkey SCA, Warrumbungle NP, Wondoba SCA, Yarrigan NP, Binnaway Nature Reserve, Biddon SCA. This will include the use of helicopters in some locations to conduct aerial incendiary work.
The NPWS statewide hazard reduction program for 2020 is focused on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the summer bushfires.
Undertaking burns when conditions are right to ensure they are safe and effective is an important part of managing the potential risk of bushfire to communities and the environment before next summer.
This work also provides firefighter safe zones and access where they can defend properties, should a bushfire occur.
All burns across NSW will continue to be coordinated with the RFS to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level.
Details on specific burns will be made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, 'Fires Near Me' app, and on NPWS Alerts website.
For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit NSW Health or the Asthma Foundation.
For up to date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service.
