Where there’s smoke ... there’s probably a fuel-reduction fire

RIDGEWAY and areas of Tasmania’s East Coast are the latest focus of fuel-reduction burns.

Parks and Wildlife fire crew supervisor James Shaw starts fires during a controlled burn on Crown Land at Risdon Vale in 2014.

FOUR fuel-reduction burns are planned across Tasmania today, including at Ridgeway in the South as well as Ansons Bay, Goulds Country and Royal George in the East.

Weather permitting, Forestry Tasmania is hoping to undertake a 525ha burn between Ansons Bay and Goulds Country, near Binalong Bay in the North East, during the next two days.

Meanwhile, the Parks and Wildlife Service will also conduct a 270ha burn around Royal George, west of Bicheno.

A smaller 66ha burn by the Tasmania Fire Service is also set to begin today at Hall St, Ridgeway, on the foothills of Mt Wellington.

The Fuel Reduction Program is aimed at reducing the bushfire risk to help protect lives and communities.

The TFS said the fire intensity would be low, but would generate flames, smoke and ash.

Smoke may persist some days after the fires depending on the wind conditions.

The public is asked to remain well out of the fire sites while the burn-offs are taking place and for the following days until safety checks have been made along tracks and trails.

People with medical conditions are advised to have a personal plan for avoiding smoke from the burn.

Advice is available from the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Further more about the Ridgeway burn is available by contacting the Parks on 0429 353 178.

A map of planned burns is available on the TFS website.

Originally published as Where there’s smoke ... there’s probably a fuel-reduction fire