September 4, 2014
Would you know what to do if you had to report a bushfire?
The Rural Fire Service Queensland is asking local residents to be well-informed when reporting a fire emergency to the authorities.
RFSQ North Coast Regional Manager Peter Hollier said it was important for residents to equip themselves with as much information as possible about a bushfire incident when calling Triple 0 to report a fire emergency.
“Ensure you know where the fire is located, including a street number, name, nearest cross street and locality,” he said.
“In rural areas it is important to know your rural road number (located on a fluoro coloured staff picket) and correct road name which will assist emergency services to know how far your property is from the nearest major intersection along that road.
“We rely on residents to report fire emergencies and to alert the fire service, if possible, to the direction a fire is travelling, the level of threat, assets in the area and nearby water supplies as well as any fire suppression actions you are undertaking.
“By knowing this information, you will help firefighters to protect life and property during an emergency.”
Mr Hollier said making a call to emergency services was very simple.
“When you first dial Triple Zero (000), you’ll get through to an emergency Telstra switch and will be asked which service you require – police, fire or ambulance,” he said.
“If you require the fire service, the Telstra switch operator will connect you to a Fire Communications Officer, who will ask you a series of questions to help identify the nature of the emergency and where you are.
“It is very important that you don’t hang up until asked to by the operator.”
Questions you will be asked include:
- What is the location of the incident?
- What is the nature of the emergency?
- Is anyone trapped, injured, endangered or unaccounted for?
- What is your phone number?
- What is burning?
- Are any persons or livestock being threatened by the fire?
- Is it close to any structures? If so, how close to the structure is the fire?
- Is anyone in attendance at the fire?
- What size is the fire?
- What is the best access to the fire?
“By knowing the answer to as many of these questions as possible, you will help us to help you during a fire emergency,” Mr Hollier said.
