The ongoing drought means the state is suffering an earlier than normal fire season, and it appears we will be in for a long, hot summer as an El Nino cycle sets in.

Forests NSW is particularly concerned about the potential for impact on the state’s very valuable pine resource in the south west slopes and central west.Forests NSW acting director Planted Forests Operations, Dean Anderson, said Forests NSW regional staff needed to be vigilant.

“The biggest causes of fires in our plantations are lightning, people burning off, arson, stolen cars and general carelessness – in that order,” he said.

Forests NSW staff in Hume Region, in the south west slopes, and Macquarie Region, in the central west, fought numerous fires early in the season.

One of these fires was started by children attending a car rally. Forests NSW helicopter was quickly deployed to this fire to prevent it spreading, while ground crews moved into place to extinguish it.

Dean said that it must be remembered that no fire is safely put out by helicopters alone.

“It is the quick response by our trained and skilled firefighters with small and large dozers, slip-on units and tankers, that enables us to control a fire and eventually extinguish it,” he said.

Dean said the pine plantations were the life-blood of rural communities in these regions – worth more than $800 million dollars and directly employing some 3 000 people.

“We work extremely hard all year round maintaining our fire trails. For example, in the central west we have more than 6 000 kilometres of plantation fire trails and access roads, which is more than the distance from Sydney to Broome,” Dean said.

“In the south west slopes, Forests NSW maintains almost 7 000 kilometres of plantation access roads and fire trails. A contract helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft are also placed on standby to help protect the 90 000 hectares of pine, plus the native forest in the region.”

Forests NSW is employing 35 seasonal employees in central west and south west NSW to complement its existing firefighting force.

Seasonal workers receive accredited training for firefighting, four-wheel driving, chainsaw operation, OHS and first-aid, as well as numerous other valuable practical skills.

All Forests NSW firefighting staff have to pass a fitness test before the beginning of summer, which involves walking 3.2 kilometres in less than 30 minutes while carrying an 11 kilogram pack.

“Forests NSW highly skilled firefighting staff will be working very hard to ensure the state’s valuable plantation estate is well protected during what promises to be a very challenging season,” Dean said.

Help protect  forests from fire

Don’t forget that during the  summer, forest fire bans known as Solid Fuel Fire Bans are introduced to protect forests, particularly pine and red gum forests from wildfire.

The ban restricts the use of open fires because forest fuels are dry, increasing the risk of campfires escaping into the  forests.

Under the seasonal Solid Fuel Fire Ban, all fires using solid fuels such as wood or charcoal are prohibited at all times.

Gas and liquid fuel appliances are not affected by the bans, but care should still be taken when using them in the forests.

Solid Fuel Fire Bans that apply every day throughout the hotter summer months should not be confused with a declared Total Fire Ban (TOBAN). On a TOBAN no fires at all are to be lit in a  forest due to extreme fire danger.

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