Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct controlled burn on Curtis Island

“Any animal in the vicinity can easily get away, the flames don’t climb up trees like wild, out of control bushfires.”

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman has ensured Gladstone residents that animals will not be harmed when a planned burn is conducted in the region on Wednesday.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman has ensured Gladstone residents that animals will not be harmed when a planned burn is conducted in the region on Wednesday.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will be conducting the burn within the northern Curtis Island Conservation park, weather permitting, as part of the annual hazard reduction/conservation management program for parks and forests.

As a result, smoke may be seen in Gladstone and surrounding areas such as Mount Larcom and Raglan.

The DES spokesman said the aim of the burn was to reduce the volume of forest fuels and to create a mosaic pattern of burnt and unburnt areas.

“This will help reduce the intensity of any subsequent wildfires and provide favourable conditions for natural forest regeneration,” the spokesman said.

“The fires are lit in really good conditions, they are slow moving and only get about a foot off the ground.

“Any animal in the vicinity can easily get away, the flames don’t climb up trees like wild, out of control bushfires as they really are a slow burning, cool type of fire.”

Smoke can decrease visibility on the roads, so it is important that motorists drive safely to the conditions.

For more information, please call the Gladstone office of QPWS on [phone].