NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is undertaking planned burns on Tuesday and Wednesday in Medowie State Conservation Area to reduce bushfire risk to the township of Medowie.
The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 is focussed on essential burns to protect park neighbours, assets or significant habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of the wildlife impacted by the summer bushfires.
Around 73 hectares will be burnt in the Boundary Hazard Reduction on Tuesday 21 April to reduce fuel loads in bushland north of Medowie.
On Wednesday 22 April the smaller Kangaroo Hazard Reduction will burn around 17 hectares just west of Medowie.
NPWS and NSW RFS crews will be working on Medowie Road just east of the burn, Ringwood Road and Boundary Road fire trail on Tuesday.
If you are driving in this area please use caution and take any advice given by staff on site.
Smoke plume modelling has predicted minimal effects on built-up areas. Additionally, the Bureau of Meteorology's fire weather forecast predictions are in keeping with this burn plan's prescriptions for temperature, relative humidity and wind strength and direction.
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 firefighters safe zones and access where they can defend properties, should a bushfire occur.
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.
All hazard reduction burns over 50 hectares will be assessed by the NSW RFS in conjunction with NSW Health as required to ensure smoke impacts are minimised.
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.
