The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting five hazard reduction burns starting Monday 7 September until Wednesday 9 September 2020, in Pilliga State Conservation Area (SCA), Merriwindi State Conservation Area and Pilliga West National Park and State Conservation Area, north-west and north-east of Baradine.
The hazard reduction burning will involve ground ignition of two areas in Pilliga SCA. This will be followed by aerial ignition of these areas and a further 3 areas in Pilliga West National Park and SCA and Merriwindi SCA.
The burns are planned to cover an area of around 3690 hectares and are expected to continue for several days, with some smoke likely beyond that time.
The objectives of the burn include to reduce the risks posed by wildfire, and to maintain a healthy landscape providing suitable habitat for a range of native plants and wildlife.
The NPWS 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 New South Wales 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.
