The NSW Rural Fire Service has planned a hazard reduction burn at Helensburgh today, Friday.
Approximately 70 personnel will be onsite between Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Park Street along the to the M1 Princes Motorway to conduct the hazard reduction burn comprising both Fire Rescue NSW and RFS Crews.
The burn will start at 10am and continue well into tonight.
Firefighters will be onsite over the weekend to conduct patrols of the area.
Smoke will be visible and residents should only call Triple Zero if they see fire without a fire truck in attendance.
RFS Illawarra District Manager, Superintendent Greg Wardle said hazard reduction is a vital element in helping to reduce the intensity of bush fires.
“These controlled burns will help protect properties and assets in the Helensburgh area and also assist our firefighters to control any future bushfires in the area,” Supt Wardle said.
“This operation is an important part of our bushfire risk management plan for the area, and there will be further controlled burns in the near future.”
Superintendent Wardle also said “it is important to take advantage of suitable weather conditions to conduct hazard reduction burning as soon such conditions occur.”
“Each year only a small window of opportunity exists where weather conditions are conducive to controlled burns,” he said.
“For a hazard reduction burn to be successful we require the right wind and temperature conditions and the ground fuels to be sufficiently dry.”
“We advise residents in the Helensburgh area to take appropriate precautions: keep doors and windows closed, remove washing from clothes lines and make sure pets are in a protected area.”
Motorists in the area are advised to slow down and take care if driving through smoke, keep windows up and turn their headlights on.
