Mount Kaputar National Park hazard reduction burn

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with support from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), will conduct a hazard reduction burn West of Scutts Hut Fire Trail and South of Kaputar Road in Mount Kaputar National Park from Monday 17 to Monday 24 March 2025.

The burn will reduce fuel loads in a rugged volcanic landscape where wildfires are historically large and containment options are limited.

The seven-day burn is a large two stage burn totalling 10,769 hectares which will serve to protect threatened species and ecological communities including brush tailed rock wallabies, pink slugs and kaputar rock skinks as well as protect the communities and agricultural lands surrounding Mount Kaputar National Park.

Burns will be carried out at least 200 metres above dry rainforest to ensure that potential habitat or wet scrub, where threatened species like pink slugs are, remains unburnt.

The burn will start around 10 am on Monday 17 March and will go through to the following Monday, with mop-up continuing until it is declared out.

During the burn, Kaputar Road and visitor facilities including Bark Hut Campground and Dawson Springs will be closed. The park, facilities and trails will reopen once the area is assessed as safe.

Another hazard reduction burn called Killarney North West will start on Monday 17 March in the Killarney State Conservation area to the North East of Narrabri and is planned to be completed in three days.

Temporary road closures will be in place to support the hazard reduction burn and motorists are advised to follow signs and drive to conditions.

Smoke may be visible from Narrabri and surrounding areas. 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, Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Forest Corporation.

The NPWS hazard reduction program for 2025 is focused on essential burns to protect both park neighbours, park and catchment assets and values.

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 are made available in advance on the Rural Fire Service website, Hazards Near Meapp, and on NPWS Alertswebsite.

For health information relating to smoke from bush fires and hazard reduction burning, visit NSW Healthor the Asthma Foundation.

For up-to-date information on these, and other, planned hazard reduction activities, visit the Rural Fire Service