The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), assisted by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) will be conducting a hazard reduction burn in Garigal National Park, North of Oxford Falls this Friday 13 August to Monday 16 August 2021, depending on weather conditions.
The 386 hectares burn near Deep Creek extends north from Slippery Dip Trail, west from Caleyi Trail and east of Five Mile Creek Trail. All tracks and trails in the area will be closed for public safety. Tracks will be reopened once they have been assessed as safe.
The aim of the burn is to improve protection for properties in Belrose and Ingleside, to reduce the spread of wildfire within Garigal National Park and to promote biodiversity by maintaining appropriate fire regimes across the reserve system.
Smoke may affect the area and people with asthma or other respiratory problems are advised to keep clear of the area or stay indoors and follow their health plan.
People with known health conditions should sign up to get air quality reports, forecasts and alerts via email or SMS and check the RFS website for advice and for regular updates on planned burns. The NPWS conducts controlled burns for a range of purposes, including asset protection, strategic fire control, maintenance of biodiversity and research.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS across New South Wales each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
These hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect the parks, neighbours and communities from summer bushfires.
Hazard reductions are an essential activity under the current Public Health Orders and will be conducted in a COVID-19 safe manner to ensure the safety of fire crews and the community.
COVID-19 safety briefings are provided to all staff who are required to wear masks along with their normal fire personal protective equipment. Contact tracing is also enabled via the QR code sign-in all fire crews must complete when starting.
