NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is planning a hazard reduction burn in Kosciuszko National Park's Pilot Wilderness Area on Friday 24 April, weather permitting.
The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 will be focussed on undertaking essential burns in areas close to neighbours and important assets and protecting significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the State's wildlife that was impacted by the summer bushfires.
The 1935 hectare burn will begin at about 11am within the eastern boundary of the area, about 20 kilometres from Jindabyne. It will use a mosaic pattern to protect private property and agricultural assets along the Barry Way and to the north east and east of the burn area.
This block was not directly impacted by fire last summer. Strategically, it is an important block to maintain low fuels levels for wildfire suppression activities in the future as well as protecting important ecological communities and endangered species.
The burn will be conducted using aerial ignition from a helicopter with ground crews supporting and is expected to last for 2 days.
Motorists are reminded to drive to conditions and observe any warning signs or directions from fire crews. Public access to these areas will be closed during the burning operations including the Barry fire trail.
Undertaking these 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.
All burns across New South Wales will continue to be coordinated with the Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level. All hazard reduction burns over 50 hectares will be assessed by the NSW Rural Fire Service as required to ensure smoke impacts on the community are minimised.
Details on specific burns will be made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, 'Fires Near Me' app, and on the 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.
