NEWS RELEASE Prescribed burn at Kelly Hill Conservation Park Prescribed burns are planned at Kelly Hill Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island for Tuesday, 22 April 2014, and Wednesday, 23 April 2014, weather conditions permitting. • • • • • • • • The burns will start at midday each day and should be complete by 8pm each day. The site is 34km south-south west of Parndana, adjacent to the South Coast Road. On the Tuesday, 43ha will be burnt on the eastern boundary of the reserve in preparation for the main burn the next day. On the Wednesday, about 350ha will be burnt in the same area. A significant smoke column will be produced during the burn, which is normal for burns of this size. Closest residences are rural properties within 1km to the north and east. South Coast Road will be impacted by smoke for the duration of the burns and traffic management will be in place. Fire crews will remain on site until safe to leave. The burn will be carried out by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) and Country Fire Service (CFS). The burn was identified in the Flinders Chase Fire Management Plan. Its primary objective is to provide a fuel-reduced buffer along the eastern boundary of the park and to assist in preventing the spread of bushfire out of the park and onto adjacent private properties. It is part of a state-wide program of prescribed burning in high-risk public land areas this autumn. Creating strategically-located, fuel-reduced areas through prescribed burning is essential in helping to reduce the potential spread and impact of bushfires on communities and the environment by providing earlier containment options for firefighters. A list of the week’s planned burns is available on the DEWNR website, at www.environment.sa.gov.au/firemanagement/Burns_and_bushfires. Prescribed burns will only be carried out when it is deemed safe to do so and may be cancelled at short notice. 22/04/14 MEDIA CONTACT Georgia Gowing Senior Media Adviser Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Phone (08) 8204 9105 Mobile 0467 795 640 Email [email protected] www.environment.sa.gov.au www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au