The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), assisted by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy will be conducting a number hazard reduction burns in Castlereagh area of the Pilliga State Conservation Area (SCA) from Monday, 16 August 2021 this week.
Fire crews will be working on a number of burns totalling 830 hectares in the SCA 45 kilometres south-west of Narrabri.
The aim of the week-long burn is to help protect the feral-free area located in the SCA by creating low fuel areas adjacent to the predator-proof fence to help prevent the spread of wildfire.
All tracks and trails in the area will be closed for public safety. Tracks will be reopened once they have been assessed as safe, subject to current Covid restrictions.
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.
