Dubbo firefighters schedule hazard reduction burns
Published Date: 06 Dec 2016
Summary
About 30 NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members are set to take part in a hazard reduction burn at Bourke Hill on Saturday.
It is one of two controlled burns scheduled by the NSW RFS in conjunction with Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) for this weekend.
Firefighters have scheduled hazard reduction burns at Bourke Hill and Mugga Downs this weekend.
The other is set to take place along the Golden Highway in the Mugga Downs area east of Dubbo on Sunday, December 11.
NSW RFS Superintendent Lyndon Wieland said both burns were due to start at 8.30am and finish by 5.00pm on each day.
“Hazard reduction plays a vital role in helping to reduce the intensity of bush fires,” Superintendent Wieland said.
“These controlled burns will help protect properties and assets around Bourke Hill and Mugga Downs, and also assist our firefighters to control future grass fires in these areas.”
Firefighters only get a small window of opportunity each year when whether conditions are conducive to controlled burns, Superintendent Wieland said.
“For a hazard reduction burn to be successful, we require the right wind and temperature conditions as well as ground fuels to be sufficiently dry,” he said.
“If we are unable to get the right conditions on the 10th and 11th December, alternate dates have been set for 17th and 18th December 2016.”
Nearby residents and motorists have been advised to exercise caution.
“We advise residents in the vicinity of these burns to take appropriate precautions, such as keeping doors and windows closed, removing washing from clothes lines and making sure pets are in a protected area,” Superintendent Wieland said.
“Motorists in these areas should also slow down and take care if driving through smoke, keep the windows up, switch the car air-conditioner to recirculated mode and turn headlights on.”
The community has been asked to assist firefighters by limiting traffic around the controlled burn areas during the scheduled times.
