Hazard reductions in Sydney's North
Published: 5th September 2013
Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW), in conjunction with Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai councils and the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS), will undertake a number of hazard reduction operations at Palm Beach and South Turramurra today.
FRNSW Northern Suburbs Zone Commander, Superintendent Kel McNamara, said today’s hazard reduction operations would be held at Palm Beach’s Sunrise Reserve (1ha) and Annie Whatt Reserve (1ha) and Ashburton Ave, South Turramurra (4ha).
“FRNSW is undertaking these hazard reductions, in conjunction with the councils and the NSW RFS, in preparation for the bushfire season,” Superintendent McNamara said.
“Ignition will start from between 9am and 10.30am and these operations will involve seven FRNSW and two NSW RFS crews.
“These burns are a priority for the state’s fire authorities due to the extremely high fuel load in the area making it a major bushfire risk.
“There will be a lot of smoke due to the high volume of fuel. Residents in the area should not be alarmed and should only call Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency.”
Residents around the hazard reduction burn area are advised to take the following precautions:
Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke entering homesKeep outdoor furniture under cover to prevent ember burnsRetract pool covers to prevent ember damageRemove washing from clotheslinesEnsure pets have a protected areaVehicles must slow down, keep windows up, turn headlights onSightseers must keep away from burns for their own safetyIf you have asthma or a lung condition, reduce outdoor activities if smoke levels are high and if shortness of breath or coughing develops, take your reliever medicine or seek medical advice.
A full list of hazard reductions is available on the RFS website – www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/hr