Hazard reduction burn in Awaba State Forest near Sydney-Newcastle Freeway

State Forests of NSW plan to conduct a hazard reduction burn in Awaba State Forest, west of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway.

The 120-hectare burn will occur west of the F3 between Freeman’s Drive and Palmers Road on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th.

State Forests Hunter Region fire management officer, Peter Crichton, said that the burn would be carefully implemented to ensure smoke does not interfere with traffic on the F3.

Under ideal weather conditions, several hazard reduction burns have been successfully carried out in the Watagans over the past few weeks.

“Hazard reduction burning is an important management activity, used to reduce fuel loads and manage bushfire risk across the landscape,” Mr Crichton said. “It is important we do these burns now, while environmental and weather conditions are suitable for implementing controlled burns of low intensity.

“It is mostly the ‘kindling’ type fuels, such as leaves and sticks on the forest floor, that will be burned,” Mr Crichton explained. “These are the fuels that generate the intense heat in a bushfire. Reducing these fuel levels now means any wildfires that occur in these areas in summer will be less intense.

“In other words, firefighters will have a greater chance of suppressing a wildfire and protecting life and property.”

These burns are authorised under the Rural Fires Act 1997 and are approved by the Lake Macquarie Bush Fire Management Committee.

Media contact: Peter Crichton on (02) 4927 2900.