November 15, 2014
A local fire ban has been imposed on the South Burnett, Cherbourg, Gympie, North Burnett and Toowoomba local government areas from midnight tonight (November 15) to midnight Tuesday night (November 18).
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Lee Johnson said severe fire conditions meant the weather was perfect for bushfires to ignite and spread quickly.
Under a local fire ban all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been cancelled,” Mr Johnson said.
Mr Johnson said the following types of fires were permitted during a local fire ban, providing conditions were followed:
- Fires for cooking purposes within a properly constructed barbecue (gas or electric) if not left unattended;
- Fires for the purpose of disposing of animal carcasses subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by your local Fire Warden;
- Fires of commercial necessity subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by your local Area Director of Rural Fire Service Queensland;
“Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however the QFES encourages people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start,” he said.
“This may include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.”
The South Burnett bans are part of a wider ban imposed on the Brisbane and South Eastern regions and parts of the North Coast and South Western regions.
Also affected are Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Redland, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Goondiwindi, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Gold Coast, Logan, Scenic Rim, Lockyer and Somerset council areas, and parts of the Brisbane City Council area.
