Hazard reduction burn in Blue Mountains National Park, North Katoomba

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) with support from Water NSW and the Rural Fire Service is planning a hazard reduction burn on Saturday 4 October in the Katoomba Catchment Special Area, weather permitting.

The hazard reduction burn intends to treat approximately 19 hectares of bushland west of North Katoomba residential area.

Hazard reduction burns are essential for reducing bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours as well as local communities if a bushfire occurs in the future.

Smoke may be visible from North Katoomba and from the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Medlow Bath.

Neighbours to the burn area have been notified via a letter box drop. The Special Catchment Area is not open to the public.

Drivers and residents should be aware that firefighting appliances will be accessing the burn via residential streets in North Katoomba.

If you are vulnerable to smoke, try to stay indoors, keeping doors and windows closed to reduce your exposure.

People with known health conditions can sign up to receive air quality reports, forecasts and alerts via email or SMS from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

For health information relating to smoke from bushfires and hazard reduction burns, visit NSW Health or Asthma Australia.

More information on hazard reduction activities is available at NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Government's Hazards Near Me website and app.