National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), is planning a hazard reduction burn for Tuesday 7 July in Jagun Nature Reserve.
This small, low-intensity burn is part of an ongoing program to reduce the risks of bushfire to the Valla Beach community, including properties and the area’s natural and cultural values.
By reducing fuel loads, this hazard reduction burn will reduce the potential for bushfire to travel unimpeded through the nature reserves. The burn will also improve ecosystem health in the reserves.
Weather permitting, 8 hectares of bushland will be treated on Tuesday in Jagun Nature Reserve. If conditions are not suitable, the burn will be rescheduled.
Tracks within the reserve will be closed for the duration of the burn. Smoke may be visible from towns in the region, including Valla Beach, Macksville, Urunga and Nambucca Heads.
NPWS hazard reduction program for 2020 is focussed on essential burns in areas close to neighbours and important assets and to protect significant areas of habitat to ensure ongoing recovery of wildlife that was impacted by the summer bushfires.
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.
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.