Central Coast hazard reduction burn in Jilliby State Conservation Area, Dooralong and Ravensdale
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with support from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), will conduct a hazard reduction burn in Jilliby State Conservation Area (SCA) today Saturday 1 March 2025.
The weekend burn is the first stage of a planned burn totalling 927 hectares which will reduce fuel such as leaves and undergrowth to help protect the communities of Dooralong and Ravensdale from risk of bushfire.
The burn will start around 10am on Saturday and will go through to Monday, with mop-up continuing until it is declared out.
All trails and tracks in the park will be closed during the burn, including Watagan Forest Road, Whitemans Ridge Road, Daniels Point Road, Maculata Road, Stinsons Point Road and trails that intersect with these.
Trails will reopen once the area is assessed as safe.
Traffic will be controlled on Watagan Forest Road to support the hazard reduction burn and motorists are advised to follow signs and drive to conditions.
Smoke may be visible from the M1, Dooralong, Ravensdale, Yarramalong and Wyong. If you are vulnerable to smoke, try to stay indoors, keeping doors and windows closed to reduce your exposure.
Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service.
All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community is assessed at a regional level.
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 bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit the NSW Health website or Asthma Australia.
More information on hazard reduction activities is available at NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Government Hazards Near Me website and app.