Hazard reduction burn in Popran National Park in Mangrove Mountain, just north of Sydney
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will undertake a hazard reduction burn with support from the Rural Fire Service in the southern part of Popran National Park, Friday 11 April, weather permitting.
The burn will start around 10am and is part of the NPWS hazard reduction program for 2025.
While the burn will reduce fuel on around 250 hectares and take one day, the entire park will be closed for a few days until fire crews deem it safe to re-open.
All visitor areas will be closed, including Emerald Pool, Ironbark picnic area, Mt Olive lookout, trails such as Mt Olive, 248, and Pipeline, as well as the Hominy Creek walking track. Additionally, informal tracks leading into the park will be closed, including Glenworth South Horse track and Mailmans walking track.
The burn aims to reduce the severity of bushfires, to help protect people and property along Peats Ridge Road and Glenworth Valley, and communities along Mangrove Creek and Pure Valley.
The ‘burn block’ is bordered by the Hominy Creek trail, Hominy Creek, Popran Road and Popran Creek and was last burnt 14 years ago.
A firefighting helicopter and smoke may be visible from the Pacific Motorway in between the Central Coast and Sydney.
Mopping up operations will continue into Saturday and public access to the burn area remains closed until safety assessment are complete.
People with asthma or who are susceptible to respiratory issues are advised to keep clear of the area or stay indoors.
All burns across NSW will continue to be coordinated with the RFS and FRNSW to ensure the impact on the community, including from smoke, are assessed at a regional level. Details on specific burns will be made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, Hazards Near Me website and app, and on NPWS Alerts website. For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit NSW Health or Asthma Australia. For up-to-date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service.