Guy Fawkes to go up in smoke as parks service plans week-long hazard reduction campaign

National Parks and Wildlife Service crews plan a hazard reduction burn along the riverine corridor and adjacent flats in the centre of the national park.

The hazard reduction burn is designed to reduce available grassy fuels from recent rain to mitigate the risks posed by wildfire, and to maintain a healthy landscape providing suitable habitat for a range of native plants and wildlife.

The national park is currently closed.

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Smoke is not expected to affect local communities, but may be visible in the distance for several days.

Swathes of the New England burned to the ground last year, with out-of-control bushfires smashing dozens of homes, and killing four.

Some locals blamed a lack of hazard reduction burns for the unprecedented horror season.

The service says its 2020 hazard reduction program is designed to protect park neighbours, assets and ecologically significant habitat. The program is also designed to give wildlife their best chance to recover from last year's catastrophic Black Summer.

This work would also create safe zones and access routes for firefighters in case of a bushfire.

The region entered its declared bushfire danger period at the start of August.

New England Rural Fire Service Inspector Liz Ferris last week warned solid rainfall through 2020 had promoted grass growth. She said fast-running grass fires could pose a significant risk this fire season.

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