A burning desire to prepare

District manager Craig Olejnik said favourable weather conditions last week allowed prescribed burns that had been months in the planning to go ahead.

‘The spring burning program will build on the successful 5000ha of fuel reduction burning completed in Gnangara, Pinjar and Yanchep pine plantations over winter,’ he said.

The department has planned prescribed burns within banksia woodlands in Neerabup and Yanchep national parks, and State forest north of Perth that will combine landscape-scale burns and smaller burns near communities, to provide protection from bushfires. ‘The department will look to take every opportunity to safely conduct prescribed burning throughout the spring,’ Mr Olejnik said.

‘Residents in the area are likely to see smoke and parks and wildlife firefighters working at these burns.’

He said motorists should turn on headlights and travel at appropriate speeds if in areas affected by smoke, and be aware of the crews and machinery operating at burns.

People with conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice.

A burn in Neerabup National Park north of Burns Beach Road last Friday, September 19, resulted in a smoke warning for Joondalup and surrounding suburbs the following day.