The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are undertaking a hazard reduction burn in Washpool National Park on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September 2021.
Northern Tablelands Area Manager Darren Pitt said the purpose of the burn is to reduce fuel loads on the ridge tops to stop intense runs of wildfire through the national park.
"Parts of Washpool and Gibraltar Range national parks were severely impacted in the 2019–20 bushfires," said Mr Pitt.
"We'll be using ground ignition and a helicopter to ignite a 737-hectare low intensity burn in remote areas of Washpool National Park and the adjacent Forest Land State Forest.
"The burn will protect natural refuge areas and habitat logs in the surrounding rainforest areas and reduce the potential for destructive, late-season bushfires in future summer seasons.
"Smoke may be visible from Sandy Flat, the New England Highway and Tenterfield tomorrow and for 2-to-3 days post-burn," said Mr Pitt.
There will be no access to parts of Spirabo Forest Way, Swampy Trail, Billyrimba Creek Trail, and Billyrimba Trail for the duration of the burn.
All burns across NSW will continue to be coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service (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.
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.
For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit the NSW Health website or the Asthma Foundation.
For up to date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service website: NSW Rural Fire Service
