Forestry Corporation of NSW’s protection supervisor Julian Armstrong said the fire was extinguished quickly by Forestry Corporation fire fighters after it was reported by South East Fibre Exports staff, who discovered the fire and undertook the initial attack.

“Local State forests are popular spots to visit as the weather heats up because you can pitch a tent anywhere for free and enjoy our large network of mountain bike, trail bike and four-wheel drive tracks,” Mr Armstrong said.

“As the weather heats up and the forests dry out, we’re reminding campers to take extreme care when lighting and extinguishing campfires.

“Campers should use established campfires wherever possible, clear leaves and grass at least two metres from the fire and thoroughly douse the fire with water before leaving to ensure it is fully extinguished.

“As the weather heats up, there will also be periods when fires are banned completely, so visitors should check the fire regulations with the Rural Fire Service before heading into the forest and pay attention to any signs in the forest.

“Forestry Corporation takes fire management seriously and we invest heavily in training our fire fighting staff and upgrading our equipment and roads so that we can rapidly detect fires and quickly respond and get them under control.

“While we were able to quickly extinguish yesterday’s fire, as we move further into the fire danger period we do urge visitors to help us protect the region’s forests by taking extreme care when using campfires.”

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For more information about Forestry Corporation of NSW, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au