National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in conjunction with FRNSW and Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council is undertaking a hazard reduction and four pile burns this week of 1.2 hectares in Dalrymple Hay Nature Reserve from Wednesday 27 October to Friday 29 October 2021.
NPWS Area Manager Greg Kirby said the Dalrymple hazard reduction burn aims to provide fuel reduced zones to help protect the parks and neighbours from summer bushfires.
"The burn area is bounded by Rosedale Rd and Vista Street asset protection zone, perimeter and central walking tracks within the reserve. The 4 pile burns are on the central track within the reserve.
"Traffic control will be in place on Rosedale Rd whist crews are working along this road to implement the burns.
"These burns may also result in smoke over Mona Vale Road. Motorists are reminded to use caution driving along roads in the area," he said.
During the burn the reserve and all walking trails will be closed to visitors.
The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2021 is 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 impacted by the 2019–20 summer bushfires.
Undertaking this burn will provide ecological benefits and will help manage the potential risk of bushfire to communities and the environment before summer. This work also provides firefighters safe zones and access where they can defend properties should a bushfire occur.
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.
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.
Residents should keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homes
- keep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burns. Retract pool covers to prevent ember damage
- remove washing from clothes lines
- ensure pets have a protected area
- vehicles must slow down, keep windows up, turn headlights on
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.
