When Weather Matters - Kosciuszko National Park Fire Facts Summary

Friday, 10 January 2003 - Current scenario Lightning ignited some 40 new fires in Kosciuszko National Park on January 8, in addition to a fire which had already been burning in the Byadbo Wilderness area since lightning strikes in mid December. While a number of the new fires have been extinguished, others continue to burn and some have joined together to create larger fire fronts. These fires are burning in exceptionally step, rugged and remote country which ranges in elevation from 300 metres in the Snowy River Valley to 2000 metres in the higher alpine areas. The vegetation ranges from tall moist forest to very dry woodlands. The sheer number of fires, the remote and difficult terrain and the variable flammability of the vegetation present a challenge to fire fighters.

Extent of fires
There are about 30 active fires in the southern portion of the park to the east of Khancoban, and 16 in the northern section. While smoke haze prevents precise estimates of the extent of the fires, most are between 10 and 200 hectares in size.

The fire threat has led to closures of additional areas of the park including parts of the Main Range. Evacuations are continuing in the Jagungal Wilderness Area and western parts of the Main Range.

The Byadbo fire is contained. Aircraft continue to closely monitor the fire.

Suppression efforts today
Four fixed wing aircraft and 23 helicopters, including the air crane Georgia Peach, are bombing the fires with water and, in some areas, fire retardant. Water bombing continues to the west of Mount Kosciuszko and the Main Range in the south, and around Tumut Ponds and West Eu*****bene in the north. Ground crews are fighting accessible fires in the northern section of the park near Kiandra, Tumut Ponds and West Eu*****bene.

Remote Area Firefighting Teams (RAFTs), which were effective in extinguishing most of the fires started in December, are on standby to conduct ground operations in the more remote areas if conditions allow.

Aerial monitoring and assessment of fires throughout the park is continuing.

Kosciuszko National Park remains open
Kosciuszko National Park is open; however some areas are closed to visitors because of potential risks from fire, smoke and fire fighting vehicles. They include parts of the Main Range, Jagungal Wilderness, Byadbo Wilderness and the Yarrangobilly Caves.

Many of the most popular tourist attractions are open, including Thredbo Village and the other alpine resorts, and many of the most popular bushwalking tracks remain open to the public, particularly at lower elevations. They include:
· the Kosciuszko Road area: - Sawpit, Pallaibo and Waterfall tracks and Rennix and Rainbow Lake walks;
· the resort areas: - Perisher-Blue Cow Link Road, Snow Gums Boardwalk, Bob’s Ridge Walk and Porcupine, Dead Horse Gap, Thredbo River and Bullock’s tracks;
· Blowering area: Warogong Sugarloaf Walk and Blowering Cliffs Walk;
· Talbingo area: - Jounama Creek, Old Mountain Road and Lander’s Creek walks and Buddong Falls Track;
· Kiandra area: - Kiandra Heritage and Goldseeker’s tracks.

The Summit Walk, Main Range Track and the the Kosciuszko Walk beyond Kosciuszko Lookout are all closed. Visitors can use the Thredbo Chairlift and walk as far as Kosciuszko Lookout. The Yarrangobilly Caves walks are closed, but visitors can access parts of the Clarke Gorge and Nicole Gorge tracks provided they remain close to the road and exercise caution. Generally, visitors should not walk in remote areas of the park. They should restrict their travel to areas close to roads and management trails.

Alpine Way – partial closure
The Alpine Way is open from Jindabyne to Thredbo Village and on to Tom Groggin. It has been closed from the turnoff to the Murray 1 power station (10 km south of Khancoban) to the turnoff to Tom Groggin Station (47 km south of Khancoban). This is due to fires burning on both sides of the road and the need for fire fighting vehicles to access the area. The Geehi picnic/camping area is closed but the Tom Groggin picnic/camping area remains open.

Snowy Mountains Highway and Elliott Way – possible temporary closures
Snowy Mountains Highway will be closed from 7pm today, Friday 10 January, to 7am Saturday to facilitate backburning operations. The Elliott Way may also be closed for backburning operations tonight. The Cabramurra-Khancoban Road remains open at this stage. For more information people should contact the RTA Transport Management Centre on 131 700.

Park closures
· The Main Range is closed at Charlottes Park and Guthega. This applies to all walks except those from the top of Thredbo Chairlift to Kosciuszko Lookout and Dead Horse Gap.
· The Jagungal Wilderness Area and surrounds are closed.
· Yarrangobilly Caves are closed as a result of a fire which is burning near the access road but poses no threat to the caves at this stage.
· The Byadbo area remains closed.

There may be further closures of the park depending on conditions.

The fire continues to pose a threat to roads such as the Alpine Way, the Snowy Mountains Highway, powerlines and infrastructure associated with Snowy Hydro. It may pose a threat to historic huts, particularly in the Jagungal Wilderness area.

Commitment
Approximately 180 personnel including:
¨ National Parks & Wildlife Service
¨ Rural Fire Service
¨ NSW Fire Brigades
¨ Snowy Hydro
¨ Transgrid
¨ Roads and Transit Authority
¨ Police
¨ Ambulance
¨ SES
¨ 23 helicopters including an air crane
¨ 4 fixed wing bombers
¨ 2 fixed wing reconnaissance planes
¨ bulldozers and contract dozer drivers

Strategies for today
· Continue aerial surveillance and assessment of new fires
· Air attack to combat fires in the Hannels Spur and Geehi Reservoir areas north of Mount Kosciuszko and the Mount Youngal area south of Khancoban
· Air and ground attack to combat fires in the Yarrangobilly, Kiandra and Eu*****bene areas.
· Patrol Byadbo fire
· Continue evacuation of bushwalkers and campers from Jagungal Wilderness Area and the western areas of the Main Range

Weather forecast
Mild to warm, mostly sunny, light to moderate SW/SE winds. Temperatures are predicted to gradually increase over the next few days.

Fire bans
A ‘Park fire ban’ is in force for all national parks and nature reserves across south eastern NSW until further notice. Wood fires or solid fuel fires are prohibited, but gas, liquid fuel or electric BBQs are permitted.