Fire bans extended as hot and dry conditions continue

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
28/09/2009
Fire bans extended as hot and dry conditions continue

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) will remain on high alert in coming days with high temperatures and low humidity set to continue across much of the State.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said: "Since the start of heightened fire activity on September 23, more than 5325 fire fighters have battled more than 900 vegetation fires across Queensland.

"More than 1760 appliances have been used including heavy plant equipment, rural and urban fire appliances and aircraft.

"I thank the firefighters on the ground both rural and urban, and all the behind-the-scenes staff for the long hours they have been working.

"Fire bans will remain in place until midnight Monday, October 5 and have been extended to also include the Local Government areas of Townsville, Burdekin and Hinchinbrook council areas.

"Very high to extreme fire conditions will continue to affect the south-east coastline and the majority of inland Queensland, as fa r north as Normanton.

"Property lost includes one hayshed at Pinelands, north of Toowoomba (22nd Sept), two cars and two small sheds at Plant Hill Road, Calcium, south of Townsville (23rd Sept), and one house and one shed at Eldridge Road, Booyal, south west of Bundaberg (24th Sept).

"The fire bans will be reviewed and may be extended again if weather conditions do not improve in coming weeks," Mr Roberts said.

Fire bans are current in the Local Government areas:
Toowoomba, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Roma, Paroo, Goondiwindi, Maranoa, Murweh, South Burnett, Banana, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Isaac, Whitsunday, Mackay, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo; Longreach; North Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Cherbourg, Bundaberg, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich City, Scenic Rim, Logan City, Gold Coast, Brisbane City, Redland City and Moreton Bay.

From midnight tonight fire bans will be expanded to include Hinchinbrook, Townsville and Burdekin Local Government areas until midnight Monday, October 5.

"It is essential that we extend these bans in the interest of community safety. Under the current bans, a large number of fires have spread quickly and been very intense and have had the potential to endanger lives and property," Mr Roberts said.

QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson said residents in these local government areas must take the necessary actions and note that they are not permitted to light any fire, including permit fires while these bans are in place.

"Even fires less than two metres in any direction are not allowed due to any fire lit under the current dry conditions likely to intensify and get out of control very quickly. Fire wardens will not be issuing any fire permits in the areas under the bans until we get some rain."

"Rural and urban firefighters across Queensland have been doing an excellent job in responding to a total of 908 fire s over the last five days. More than 130 of these fires were reasonably significant and involved volunteers working alongside auxiliary and permanent fire fighting personnel from QFRS.

"Many of these firefighters are volunteers who have given up their time to help their communities, while QFRS staff have also contributed numerous hours to taking triple zero calls, tasking crews and equipment, heading up Incident Control Centres and coordinating the firefighting response," Mr Johnson said.

"QFRS is continuing to work around the clock to coordinate the necessary teams and equipment to respond quickly if required. A number of strike teams have been set up across the State and are ready to be deployed where needed, while waterbombing aircraft remain on standby."

Mr Johnson encouraged all Queenslanders to discuss their bushfire plans with their families in case they are faced with a fire emergency.

"Residents are urged to have a plan in place and t hose who plan to leave, when faced with a threatening fire, should finalise their options well beforehand and be prepared to leave if necessary," he said.

"The safest option is always to leave early rather than to stay and defend and residents need to be aware that the risks of staying to defend include the risk of physical injury and death," Mr Johnson said.

"Residents who plan to stay and defend their property should finalise their preparations around the home."

Preparations should include:
* Making sure your yard is cleared of fine fuels - Fine fuels are things such as long dry grass, fallen leaves and twigs. Anything smaller in diameter than your little finger is a fine fuel and it is these that you need to clean up around your property.
* Moving wood piles away from your home.
* Cleaning leaves out of gutters.
* Closing underfloor spaces and seal all gaps where embers could enter.
* Checking your back up water supply as power may go off - so don't rely on electrical pumps for supply of water.
* Gathering appropriate firefighting equipment such as ladders, hoses, buckets, mops, portable water pumps, a ladder, rake, a torch, and a knapsack spray to put out small "spot" fires.
* Making sure you have protective clothing available including long sleeved cotton shirts and trousers.

Those who decide to stay are reminded that in the event of a fire, firefighters may not be able to actively defend every house and residents should not expect a fire crew at their door.

If you do see a fire, call triple zero (000) immediately, even if it is a small grass fire near your property or even on a median strip.

"With early warning, crews can get to the scene of a fire which in turn decreases the chance of it getting out of control. I also remind motorists not to flick cigarette butts out of car windows," Mr Johnson said.

"It puts crews in dan ger and ties up vital resources when responding to a fire that has started in a median strip because motorists have carelessly flicked a cigarette but outside their car window."

If a serious fire does occur, regular updated information will be provided on the QFRS Rural Operations website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or at www.fire.qld.gov.au and residents are advised to listen to their local radio station.

Permanent Link: Fire bans extended as hot and dry conditions continue
Publish Date: 28 Sep 09