Canobolas Zone RFS conduct hazard reduction across 320 hectares around Clifton Grove
Published Date: 18 May 2017
Summary
The smoke haze which has settled around Orange is expected to clear by the weekend.
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Around 320 hectares at Clifton Grove was burned on Thursday as a part of the NSW Rural Fire Service Canobolas Zone’s hazard reduction program.
John Lindsay, Bruce Browne, Greg Lee, Geoff Browne
“We do appreciate we’re causing some disruption when we’re putting smoke into the air,” Canobolas Zone operations co-ordinator Brett Bowden said.
“Seeing smoke now is much better than seeing smoke in the middle of January.
“It’s an ongoing program of ours for the last 12 years and will continue into the future.”
Geoff Olde takes the drip torch for a walk.
Mr Bowden said the hazard reduction program was about lowering the risk around people’s homes and farm assets
RFS hazard reduction work at Clifton Grove.
“We’re concentrating on what we believe is bushfire prone lane,” Mr Bowden said.
“Fine fuel loads, like leaf litter and tree limbs burn rapidly in any condition and can help elevate fire into the canopy.
RFS volunteers Bruce Browne, Greg Lee and John Lindsay working on the hazard reduction at Clifton Grove.
“Hazard reduction is aimed at reducing fine fuel loads in these areas where it’s close to people’s houses and other farm assets.
“We understand we’re impacting a lot people, everyone will wake up Saturday morning and it will be crystal clear.”
Geoff Olde creating containment lines around Clifton Grove.
Mr Bowden said volunteers from Springside, Kings Plains, Clifton Grove/Ophir, Towac and Lewis Ponds assisted with the hazard reduction.
He said the hazard reduction had been carefully managed by the RFS, with containment lines created on Wednesday, before a helicopter arrived on Thursday to assist.
RFS hazard reduction work at Clifton Grove.
The helicopter dropped incendiary devices which created smaller fires which came together.
RFS volunteers Andrew Wylie, Margaret Struthers, Simon Smith help reduce the bushfire risk.
“Once the fires are all joined up they stop burns because there’s no more fuel,” Mr Bowden said.
Geoff Olde
The Clifton Grove hazard reduction is expected to be the final one in Canobolas Zone until spring.
