Forests NSW helicopter water bombing during a wildfire. Photo copyright Western Advocate. Top right: Prescribed burning makes wildfires easier to control.

Across  the state in the cooler months Forests NSW firefighters are preparing for fire.  They are busy undertaking hazard reduction or prescription burns to reduce fuel  loads and help protect the state’s valuable timber resource from high intensity  wildfires.

“The  landscape has become drier and hotter of late, which means we are in danger of  more intense wildfires, so in response we need to be clever and prescription  burning is one of our best tools,” Forests NSW program fire management unit  representative, Steve Brown, said.

The burns are planned on a regional level, drawing on the local  knowledge and expertise of Forests NSW field and operations staff.

“For  these people the bush is their office and they know the area in great detail,”  Steve said. “We need to quickly identify windows of opportunity, as we only  have a small amount of time to do an extensive amount of burning, while still  meeting our sustainability and environmental requirements.

“These requirements mean we burn in a mosaic pattern, to allow animals  to move away from the fire to safety, and to break the burns into manageable  areas. We also exclude sensitive areas such creek lines and key habitats of  endangered or threatened wildlife from these burns.

“We  try to minimise the impact on built up areas such as towns or major roads by  checking the weather conditions prior to the burns.

“Where  possible, Forests NSW works with other agencies to conduct burns so that we can  burn larger areas more efficiently.”

Steve  said this year Forests NSW was conducting more aerial incendiary work using its  helicopter to drop small capsules about the size of a ping pong ball, which  ignite a minute after impact with the ground.

“This  allows us to successfully burn large areas at a low intensity and very  efficiently,” he said.

This  work is conducted by Forests NSW helicopter pilot Grant Johnson, who is also in  demand from other agencies to do their air incendiary work.

“Grant  has flown helicopters for more than 30 years and fought fires from the air for  most of that time, so his experience is invaluable,” Steve said.

“In  general prescribed burning is becoming more scientifically based and we are  working hard to ensure that Forests NSW is the best position possible when it  comes to fighting wildfire.”

Forests NSW conducts prescribed burning courses for its staff and staff from other agencies including NSW Rural Fire Service, ACT Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW Fire Brigades.

The course is presented by Forests NSW staff and members of the fire community including CSIRO research scientist, Dr Jim Gould.

It covers fire behaviour and the impact of fuel moisture on burn outcomes, as well as environmental constraints, including the impact of fires on animals and plants, and optimal weather conditions for prescribed burning. The course also examines how fire impacts on different vegetation types across the state.

“The issue of prescribed burning is becoming more important in the context of climate change,” Steve said.

This article appears in the Winter 2008 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.