Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have this week played a major role in a hazard reduction burn to protect Warragamba dam, west of Sydney, and its nearby township from the threat of bushfires.
FRNSW was tasked by Water NSW with establishing controlled burns and containment lines along the front of the 25-hectare zone around Sydney’s primary water catchment.
A helicopter was used to drop incendiary devices into the bush to safely ignite the hazard reduction fire.
FRNSW Station Officer, Heath Langdon, said the environment created a few challenges for the fire crews.
“The wind was burning in a sort of undulating terrain,” FRNSW Station Officer Langdon said, “It was very difficult to read and predict, however, we managed to get the flanks in and utilising the burn patterns we had, we used the wind to our favour to protect the interface and put depth on the hazard reduction itself.
“By conducting this hazard reduction, it’s not only protected the interface of the local township, it has also protected the infrastructure of the Warragamba catchment.”
Station Officer Langdon said the successful operation has provided peace of mind to locals, particularly Warragamba’s long-term residents.
“The work that we’ve done this week was much needed to reduce the fuel loads as we head towards summer.
“The fuel is drying rapidly after the dry winter and now’s the perfect time on a regular basis to go out there and conduct hazard reductions.”
