April 27, 2015
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting a planned burn within the Beeron National Park, near Manar Park, from tomorrow (April 28).
The burn is part of the annual hazard reduction/conservation management program for parks and forests.
Smoke may be seen in the Beeron and Allies Creek areas.
The aim of the burn is to reduce the volume of forest fuels and to create a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt areas within the park.
This will help reduce the intensity of any subsequent wildfires and provide favourable conditions for natural forest regeneration.
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The QFES says local residents will begin to see more hazard reduction burns taking place as landowners reduce the fuel loads on their properties.
Rural Fire Service Queensland North Coast Acting Regional Manager Gary McCormack said the burns signalled the start of “Operation Cool Burn” for 2015 and the bushfire mitigation season.
“Operation Cool Burn will see QFES along with partner stakeholders the Department for Environment and Heritage Protection, Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, local councils and landholders undertake mitigation activities across the State to reduce fire risk in bushfire-prone areas,” he said.
“Every landholder should take this opportunity to get involved with Operation Cool Burn by considering the need to reduce fuel loads on their land.”
Mr McCormack said there were several tactics landholders could employ to reduce fuel loads, including slashing vegetation or burning it.
“Landholders wanting to conduct a hazard reduction burn should contact the Fire Warden in their area to obtain a free Permit to Light a Fire,” he said.
