Local Forestry Corporation of NSW staff have completed the first stage of their annual fire season preparations, passing gruelling fitness tests that simulate the strain placed on the body during firefighting.

More than 50 Forestry Corporation of NSW firefighters honed their skills recently in a five-day training camp at Johns River in preparation for a busy fire season ahead.

Already this month more than 4.5 million radiata pine (Pinus radiata) seeds have started the first steps in a process that will ultimately deliver the building blocks of Australia’s homes in three decades.

Campfires and barbecues using wood, charcoal or other solid fuels will be banned in State forests in the Riverina and western plains from 1 October 2019 to reduce the risk of bushfires.

Forestry Corporation of NSW has begun preparations at the site of the future Sugar Pine Walk in Bago State Forest.

Over 3,000 hectares of pine seedlings have been planted across Forestry Corporation of NSW plantations in the South West Slopes during the annual winter planting program.

Forestry Corporation of NSW has finished replanting 1,500 hectares of pine plantations across the Bombala region to provide timber for homes of the future.

Campfires and barbecues using wood, charcoal or other solid fuels have been banned in all State forests on the North Coast, Northern Tablelands Central West Tablelands, South Coast and parts of Western NSW from Sunday 1 September until further notice to reduce the risk of bushfires.

Firefighters from across Central West and Western NSW have been put through their paces this week, being trained and tested at Forestry Corporation of NSW’s pre-season fire days in Parkes.

Up to 4,500 hectares of red gum forest, fringing creeks, wetland and habitat will be replenished over the next 60 days thanks to a planned watering event in the Koondrook and Perricoota State Forests.