Parts of Pilliga to close for weekend hazard reduction burn
Oliver Brown
28 July 2022, 2:35 AM
NPWS teams will be conducting hazard reduction burns across hundreds of hectares of the Pilliga this weekend as part of standard preparations for the return of bushfire season. PHOTO: Will Harvey. PARTS of the Pilliga forest in the Warrumbungle shire are expected to be blanketed in smoke this weekend as the local National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conducts a hazard reduction burn in the area.
The burn will be covering more than 650 hectares of the Yarrigan National Park between Baradine and Bugaldie from Friday 29 July to Sunday 31 July.
NPWS Area Manager John Whittal said the purpose of the burn was to reduce potential bushfire risk in the Pilliga by shrinking available fuel loads.
“The 670-hectare Yarrigan West burn will commence on Friday with further burning, mop up and patrol continuing as required,” Mr Whittall said.
"Distributor roads such as Baradine Rd and villages such as Bugaldie and Baradine may be impacted by smoke depending on the wind."
According to NPWS, several localised park roads in the park will be closed for public safety. A full list will be made available on the alerts page of the NPWS website.
Mr Whittall said the burn was a standard practise in regional national parks during winter, however locals and travellers in the area this weekend should still take precautions to ensure everyone's safety.
“Locals are reminded to please exercise caution and follow directions of NPWS crews if driving on roads in the area," Mr Whittall said.
“If you are vulnerable to smoke, we encourage you to stay indoors and keep your doors and windows closed to reduce exposure."
As part of standard procedure, the Castlereagh Zone of the NSW Rural Fire Service have been notified about the hazard reduction burn and will coordinate with the NPWS team to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level.
Elsewhere in the north west, a 500 hectare burn in Biddon State Conservation Area (SCA) near Gilgandra also starts Saturday 30 July and will continue into Monday 1 August if required.
NPWS crews are working 5km east of Biddon and about 20 km north of Gilgandra, with smoke possibly impacting nearby roads including the Newell Highway and from the village of Biddon depending on the wind.
