Spring prescribed burns program gets underway

Up to 45 prescribed burns will be conducted across South Australia in the lead up to summer, including 28 burns planned for the Mount Lofty Ranges.

The spring program started earlier this week in the Barwell Conservation Park, near Lock on the Eyre Peninsula, and follows the highly successful NPWS 2023-24 program where a total of 90 burns were undertaken across the state.

AFAC, the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services, released its spring 2024 seasonal bushfire outlook on Wednesday. It stated that there was an increased bushfire risk in spring across the state’s South-East due to below average rainfall and above average temperatures during the recent winter.

The report also found that, across the state, there would likely be a continuation of below average rainfall and a high chance of well above average temperatures throughout the season.

According to AFAC, those conditions could lead to an elevated risk of fire in summer between the northern Mount Lofty Ranges and the southern Flinders Ranges.

NPWS Fire Management Director Fiona Gill said prescribed burns help reduce fuel loads across public and private land, while also regenerating habitats for native plants and animals.

“Reducing fuel loads with prescribed burns is an important tool to help limit the speed and intensity of bushfires,” Ms Gill said.

“Reducing the risk of bushfires across the state is important to make bushfires easier to control. Prescribed burns provide a safer environment for firefighters and, ultimately, help to save lives and property.

“Prescribed burns also play a vital role in managing our landscapes as many native plants and animals rely on burning to regenerate their habitat.”

Prescribed burns are not the only tactic to reduce bushfire risks. They are designed to enhance and support other mitigation measures, including mechanical thinning, slashing and weed control, to help achieve the best outcomes.

Ms Gill said NPWS fire crews took utmost care to manage prescribed burns so smoke exposure was minimised and that some roads and/or trails may be closed or restricted to ensure public safety.

Every opportunity is taken to complete as many burns as possible in suitable weather and fuel conditions during spring and autumn as part of the fire management program.

Burns that are unable to be completed due to unsuitable weather are rolled over to the following spring or autumn as part of an ongoing, rolling 3-year mitigation program.

Prescribed burns are a shared responsibility between land management agencies (Department for Environment and Water/NPWS, ForestrySA and SA Water), Country Fire Service, councils and private landholders.

For the most up-to-date information and to find a list of planned prescribed burns, visit the DEW website.

You can also sign up for updates on prescribed burns straight to your inbox.