Forests NSW squirrel helicopter can be used for dropping aerial incendiary capsules, water bucketing fires, air observation and fireline mapping. It was a vital part of the Pilliga prescribed burn. Photo by Steve Brown

Forests NSW understands just how powerful prescribed burns are as a tool in the management of fuel, especially in places as fire prone as the Pilliga.

Accumulation of fuels such as branches, leaves and dead trees and grasses can lead to raging, out-of-control wildfires.

Wildfires started by accident, caused by lightning, or deliberately lit can pose a severe threat to lives, property, livelihoods and our valuable state-owned timber resources.

They can also have a big impact on forest values such as biodiversity, aesthetics, recreation sites, water quality and wildlife habitat.

In the past, the Pilliga region in western New South Wales has suffered a number of large fires that have proved not only costly to fight, but have also damaged large tracts of land and destroyed property.

The eastern half of the Pilliga, covering 250,000 hectares between Narrabri and Coonabarabran, and managed by Forests NSW and NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), is recognised as the most fire prone in the area due to the scrubby nature of the forest.

Earlier this year, Forests NSW successfully carried out a prescribed burn in the eastern Pilliga that covered 4100 hectares with a 33-kilometre perimeter.

Forests NSW and DEC, along with the Rural Fire Service and the local bush fire management committee, are working towards burning much of the forest in the eastern Pilliga, over time, in a patchwork or mosaic of burnt and unburnt areas.

Forests NSW operations forester based at Baradine, Tom Newby, said in this manner a situation was created where, if a wildfire does occur, it would run into areas that have been hazard reduced.

“This gives firefighters a greater chance of controlling the wildfire, as it will burn with less intensity in areas with lower fuel loads,” Tom said.

“This mosaic pattern also allows fauna to find refuge from intense wildfire. When it comes to flora, in many cases, native plants flourish in the aftermath of a fire.

“Not only do we intend to better protect the region through prescribed burns, we also hope to free-up resources. “Firefighting is a costly and time consuming business, often taking people away from their families and work, especially at Christmas time.

“A wildfire of similar size to our controlled burn could take up to a fortnight to control and patrol, or in a bad fire season even a month, and a lot more people and equipment.

“Whereas, a prescribed burn may take only a few days’ work to plan and implement and a lot less people and equipment,” Tom said.

Before a burn, various conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, cloud cover, fuel moisture and smoke build up are taken into consideration.

For the Pilliga burn, Forests NSW used its helicopter and experienced hazard reduction pilot, Grant Johnson, to assist ground-based firefighters to light up large sections of forest surrounded by roads as fire breaks.

On the ground, firefighting crews, tankers, dozers and slip-on units patrolled the forest areas.

Tom said prescribed burning required long-term planning and must be undertaken with the greatest of caution.

“It is a rewarding job to carry out a successful burn, knowing that you are preparing for the coming fire season, whatever it might bring,” he said.

This article appears in the Spring 2006 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.