A planned burn-off is currently taking place in Horsley, with smoke drifting across nearby suburbs as firefighters capitalise on the region's mild and dry conditions. The three-hectare hazard reduction burn is located east of Flemmings Crescent, and while the smoke has raised concerns among some residents, the NSW Rural Fire Service has confirmed it remains under control.
"The wind's pretty benign out there," an RFS spokesman stated.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to patrol a separate burn-off at Helensburgh, off Lawrence Hargrave Drive, which commenced yesterday. Further north, a 350-hectare hazard reduction in the Royal National Park at Sutherland, initiated on April 26, is under control, as is a 103-hectare burn near the Woronora Dam.
Why are hazard reductions necessary?
Hazard reductions are essential for reducing fuel loads in bushland areas, thereby diminishing the intensity of major, out-of-control fires should they occur.
"When there is a fire that's of any intensity coming through, it reduces that impact to provide a greater protection for the community," explained RFS operational officer David Bartlett.
Numerous factors are assessed before a burn takes place, which is why firefighters often refer to a hazard reduction burn as a 'prescribed burn'.
"We look at the different weather parameters that are forecast, and we have what we call a prescription within our burn plan," he said. "We try to make sure that things like the temperature, the relative humidity, the wind and the wind direction, and what the current fire danger rating is. That will indicate the intensity of the fire, how it will burn, and whether that's within our control strategies to make sure that we can keep the fire where we want to keep it and burn it how we want to burn it safely."
Recent weather conditions have not been conducive to conducting burns, and this past week has provided firefighters with the opportunity to catch up on planned hazard reductions. "This is the first opportunity that I think that we've had really where it's dried out enough so we can do it," Mr Bartlett said.
Why are burns taking place now?
Numerous hazard reduction burns are occurring across NSW due to favourable weather conditions. "Conditions are conducive to be able to undertake some controlled hazard reductions, so the weather's aligning so that we can undertake these burns safely," Mr Bartlett said. "We're taking every opportunity where we can depending on what rainfall's falling in between."
What you need to do
Anyone living near a planned burn is advised to close windows at home, bring in washing, and exercise caution when driving on smoke-affected roads. "Anyone with any respiratory issues or anything like that, put their health plan in place," Mr Bartlett advised.
If you see an unattended fire, call triple zero immediately. Stay up-to-date with fires in your area through the free Hazards Near Me app.
