Hazard reduction burn occurs with one day's notice
A hazard reduction burn undertaken at Wagstaffe with one day's notice prompted social media posts by local fire brigades and an emergency incidents monitoring service.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service announced in a media release on Wednesday, May 24, that the service was "planning a hazard reduction burn in Bouddi National Park, west of Wagstaffe, tomorrow Thursday, May 25".
"The 9.8-hectare, low intensity burn is being implemented tomorrow to take advantage of suitable weather conditions," the service stated.
During Thursday, the Pearl Beach fire brigade advised on social media that visible smoke was due to a hazard reduction burn.
The Fire and Rescue NSW station at Umina said that smoke would be visible all day.
The NSW Central Coast Incident Alerts service provided advice for residents including to keep doors and windows closed, take washing off clotheslines and to ensure pets have a protected area.
The National Parks Service said the purpose of the burn was to reduce fuel loads in the park to protect private properties in Albert St and Bulkara St, and to assist with the control of unplanned wildfires in the national park.
It said the burn would also help to protect habitat for eastern osprey and benefit the Pittwater and Wagstaffe Spotted Gum Forest, an endangered ecological community found in Bouddi National Park.
"Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires."
SOURCE:
Media release, 24 May 2023
Catherine Rout, NPWS
Photo above: Chris Downey