NAROOMA residents on Thursday afternoon would have noticed smoke towering in the sky to the north of town.
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We can reassure you that it is from planned hazard reduction burn in the Bodalla State Forest located between Dalmeny and Brou lakes.
Bodalla Forest Rest Area and the Mummaga Lake Walking Track has been closed in recent weeks for the planned hazard reduction burn to be completed by Forestry Corporation of NSW forest firefighters.
Forestry Corporation’s Protection Planner Rob Young weeks back said the hazard reduction burn would be undertaken when weather conditions are favourable.
“There’s a narrow window of opportunity to safely complete hazard reduction burns, when it’s not too hot or damp and the wind conditions limit the impact of smoke on neighbours so if we get the right conditions we will need to move quickly to complete the burn before the window closes,” Mr Young said.
“Unfortunately this means we are not able to advise in advance exactly when the burn will take place.
“This burn is designed to reduce fuel to protect the local community and the forest from the risk of intense wildfire. We will also burn the branches and leaf litter that have remained around the rest area following harvesting last year to create a rich seed bed and encourage natural regeneration.
“We expect the burn will take around two days to complete, but we will need to keep the rest area and walking track closed for a few days after we finish so our crews can continue to keep an eye on the burnt area, extinguish any flare ups and remove any hazards so it is safe for visitors to return.
“Information about the progress of the burn will be available through the Rural Fire Service’s “Fires Near Me” website and app and we will also be putting warning signs up in the forest.
“While Forestry Corporation fire fighters will carefully monitor the burn to ensure it stays within cleared containment lines, we do ask people to pay attention to any signs in the forest or instructions from staff and stay away from any burning or recently burnt areas for their own safety.”
Forestry Corporation is responsible for more than 2.2 million hectares of native and planted forests and has been formally involved in firefighting in NSW for almost 100 years.
For more information about hazard reduction burns, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au or the Rural Fire Service’s Fires Near Me website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
