Sightseers and wood collectors are putting their lives at risk by visiting state forests that were devastated by the summer bushfires.
Many of the state forests and softwood plantations around Tumut and Tumbarumba have been closed since late December and early January, when the Dunns Road and Green Valley bushfires took hold.
Despite the closures remaining in place, the Forestry Corporation has been forced to warn people to stay out of the burned areas.
Fire damaged forests are dangerous places and should simply be avoided, according to Forestry Corporation's production and stewardship supervisor Billie-Jo Brown.
"Recently we've seen many people driving around closed state forests, taking photos and collecting firewood," Mrs Brown said.
"We can't understate how dangerous burnt forests are, and urge people to avoid these areas until reopened.
"There are many dangerous standing trees, much fallen debris and log bridges are burnt."
Forestry Corporation crews have already started recovery operations across the Snowy Valleys region, trying to salvage as much timber as possible and make forests safe for visitors.
"We ask that forest visitors be patient with us, as we work to make the forests safe once again," Mrs Brown said.
"Many of our forest roads, bridges and pipework have been extensively damaged by fire.
"Heavy rain will also see some roads slump and become even more dangerous.
"As we repair infrastructure, remove dangerous trees and make our forests safe for visitors again, we ask people to check for forest closures before setting out on trips."
The Dunn's Road fire alone burned through more than 270,000 hectares of land, affecting about 40,000 hectares of both state and privately owned pine plantations. This added up to about 25 per cent of the pine plantations in the area.
As the softwood industry races to process as much of the bushfire-affected timber as possible before it becomes unsalvageable, a Tumbarumba mill is expanding its workforce to cope with demand.
Hyne Timber, which already employs about 230 people, is in the process of adding a third shift.
Site manager Marcus Fenske said the third shift was essential as the company play its part in bushfire recovery and increases locally grown, plantation softwood timber supply to customers.
"The race is on to process as much salvaged, fire-impacted pine logs as possible following the devastating bushfires at the start of the year.
"Once we get the burnt bark off, the processed timber is great quality and continues to be delivered to around 400 different customer sites across NSW, Victoria and ACT."
