The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has completed more than 640ha of hazard reduction burning over the past week in the Central Coast Hunter region including 553ha in Jilliby State Conservation Area.
About 80 NPWS staff, supported by dozens of fire trucks and two helicopters, took on the huge task at Jilliby, as well as a hazard reduction burn in Werakata National Park.
NPWS Central Coast Hunter Director, Kylie Yeend, said these burnt areas would be vital in helping to reduce the intensity of bushfires and to protect communities and assets close to Ravensdale, Dooralong, Abermain and Kurri.
“In a first for our team, we deployed a thermal drone to visualise and geolocate post-burn hot spots, which assisted our crews with safe and effective mop-up operations,” Yeend said.
Hazard reduction burns were also carried out across the region by the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and Forestry Corporation.
“Last weekend was a fantastic example of the benefits of close collaboration between NSW’s firefighting agencies who work together to deliver hazard reduction burns like those delivered over the past few weeks,” Yeend said.
“In addition to good planning and good inter-agency collaboration, we also had good luck with the weather.
“Successful hazard reduction burning depends on the right wind and temperature conditions, preceded by a sufficient period without rain so that the ground fuel is dry enough to catch.”
NPWS will be monitoring weather conditions over coming weeks to identify another suitable window for hazard reduction burning.
Hazard reductions are an essential activity under the current Public Health Orders and are conducted in a COVID safe manner to ensure the safety of fire crews and the community.
Source:
National Parks and Wildlife Service