The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a hazard reduction burn in the Pilliga West State Conservation Area (SCA) from Thursday, 19 August 2021.
Fire crews will be working on the 700 hectare burn, part of which will be on the eastern side of the Pilliga–Coonamble Road about 20 kilometres south-west of Pilliga.
The work is expected to be finished by the weekend to help reduce fuel loads and prevent the spread of fire in the area from any future ignition.
Drivers on Pilliga Road are likely to encounter smoke which may affect visibility. They should heed warning signs and follow directions given by NPWS fire crews.
All tracks and trails in the area will be closed for public safety. Tracks will be reopened once they have been assessed as safe, subject to current Covid restrictions.
The NPWS conducts controlled burns for a range of purposes, including asset protection, strategic fire control, maintenance of biodiversity and research.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS across New South Wales each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
These hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect the parks, neighbours and communities from summer bushfires.
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.
COVID-19 safety briefings are provided to all staff who are required to wear masks along with their normal fire personal protective equipment. Contact tracing is also enabled via the QR code sign-in all fire crews must complete when starting.
