January 10, 2013
Motorists are adding to the current bushfire risk, with 17 per cent admitting they had thrown cigarette butts from their car window, according to the latest RACQ Insurance research.
And worse still, the research showed 17 per cent of Queenslanders admitted ignoring total fire bans and 75 per cent had witnessed other people doing the same thing.
One in 10 said they had often seen other people light fires such as barbecues during total fire bans.
RACQ Executive Manager Insurance Communications Mike Sopinski said the bushfire emergency confronting southern states was a timely reminder of the dangers posed to life and property in Queensland, where hot summers meant bushfires were a constant threat.
“Ignoring a total fire ban is a crime and given the dry conditions across many parts of the State, could cause a catastrophe,” Mr Sopinski said.
“The research shows that the current weather conditions have caused more than half of Queenslanders (53 per cent) to consider their home or property to be at even greater bushfire risk, underscoring the need for homeowners to take appropriate precautionary steps.”
Mr Sopinski said that near record low rainfall in late 2012 had fuelled concern among many in the community about the threat of fire to their home and property.
The RACQ Insurance research also showed there was more people could do to protect their homes from fire.
“Of immediate and considerable concern is that more than a quarter of all Queenslanders (27 per cent) feel they are not always well informed about local fire restrictions,” Mr Sopinski said.
“One-fifth of all Queensland householders say they do not regularly prune tree branches and foliage adjacent to their home, while slightly over one-quarter of all householders (26 per cent) admitted they don’t regularly clean home gutters.
“With little or no rain, leaves and other material becomes very dry and brittle, and acts as fuel for bushfire embers, which can have a devastating effect if fire takes hold.
“This lack of preparedness shows there is room for improvement, and we encourage all homeowners to take the basic precautionary measures to protect their assets.”
The RACQ Insurance research showed just under one-third of the State’s householders (30 per cent) would not know what to do if their home was threatened by a bushfire.
The research also showed that one in 10 householders believed their home was a fire risk.
Mr Sopinski said an important component of preparing for any possible bushfire threat was to reassess home and contents insurance cover.
Despite 89 per cent of Queenslanders saying insurance should be compulsory for those in bushfire-prone areas, 14 per cent had no home or contents insurance.
