Forestry Corporation has conducted a week-long hazard reduction burn in Jacks Creek State Forest, south of Narrabri.
A low intensity burn was staged across 1,000-hectares of the state forest.
Forestry Corporation’s Northern Cypress crews were assisted by mitigation crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service’s North Western Area Command.
Brody Wickham, Forestry Corporation’s Fire Officer Western Region, said the hazard reduction burn aimed to safeguard private properties bordering the state forest.
“This hazard reduction will provide vital protection to multiple lifestyle blocks to the north of Jacks Creek State Forest,” Mr Wickham said.
“The community has expressed concern at the high fuel loads in the area, which has not been burnt by wildfire for many years.
“Attempts were made to conduct hazard reduction burns in that area of the state forest about two years ago, but the vegetation was found to be too wet at the time with consecutive La Nina weather systems causing high moisture contents and making burning unviable.
“The burn has been extremely complex in planning and conduction due to threatened species in the state forest and due to air intakes for a neighbouring underground mine,” Mr Wickham said.
Jacks Creek State Forest covers an area of 4,600 hectares and includes the town of Narrabri and the village of Boggabri, sharing a border with the Pilliga East State Forest.
