Released 02/11/2016
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service wishes to advise the public that two prescribed burns will commence this week, weather permitting.
Tomorrow, Thursday 3 November 2016, various piles of debris adjacent to Stromlo Forest Park will be burnt. On Friday 4 November 2016 a six hectare ecological burn will take place at Gilmore horse paddocks off Isabella Drive.
The Stromlo Forest Park burn will treat slash piles consisting predominantly of invasive wattle species and weeds. The Gilmore horse paddocks burn will help control African Lovegrass.
Neil Cooper, Manager, Fire, Forests and Roads in ACT Parks and Conservation said that due to the wet conditions in our reserves the Service needs to prioritise the burns that can be delivered at the moment.
“These smaller burns are also a valuable training opportunity for new recruits and volunteers,” Mr Cooper said.
It is hoped that a number of the burns identified in the 2016-17 Bushfire Operations Plan can take place in late Spring/early summer with the others to take place next year.
“In the lead-up to the prescribed fire season, we’ve looked at ways to improve how we communicate with residents. We’ve established a smartform allowing residents to sign up to get all ACT Parks prescribed burn updates automatically by email,” Mr Cooper said.
Members of the public can also find out more information about upcoming burns by following Environment and Planning and ACT Parks and Conservation Service on Twitter @EPD_Comms and @ACT_Parks, visiting the EPD website for a list of upcoming burns including maps and the option to opt into an RSS feed to stay up to date. The website also includes information about the ACT Parks and Conservation Service’s fuel management program and a video about prescribed burns.
People with asthma, other chronic respiratory and/or chronic cardiac diseases should not perform vigorous exercise and should, if possible, stay inside if affected by the smoke. People with asthma in particular should continue their medication and consult their general practitioner if they have any difficulties. Every effort is made to conduct the burns in weather conditions that will minimise the impact of smoke on residents of the ACT and surrounds.
Like in all prescribed burns, safety is of paramount importance. Highly experienced Parks fire managers, supported by trained Parks fire-fighters, will conduct the burning operations. Staff will continue to monitor the burn site until smoke has not been visible for 24 hours.
Before any burns are undertaken major stakeholders, including the Emergency Services Agency, the Australian Federal Police, Air Traffic Control, Roads ACT and the Bureau of Meteorology are advised. For more information, please call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
- Statement ends -
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