June 16, 2015
This week is Rural Fire Service Queensland Week – an opportunity for local residents to find out more about the many Rural Fire Brigades that protect the South Burnett and learn more about fire safety.
On Saturday (June 20), representatives from the Stuart River and Malar Booie rural fire brigades will mount a stall in front of the BCF store in Rogers Drive, Kingaroy, as an outreach to the community.
Aaron Clampit, from the Stuart River brigade, said they would be there from 9:00am to noon to answer questions, provide community information about fire permits, hazard mitigation, Bushfire Survival plans, as well as providing recruitment information to prospective volunteers.
Another key topic will be “Operation Cool Burn” leading up to the start of the fire season in late winter.
Also on Saturday, McEuen Rural Fire Brigade will be holding an Open Day at the Ballogie fire shed at 12398 Chinchilla Wondai Road, Ballogie, between 9:00am and noon, in conjunction with the Coverty and Glencoe Rural Fire Brigades and the Wondai Urban Fire Brigade.
There’ll be a free barbecue, live demonstrations from Weir’s Mulching, plus information on fire safety and how to prepare your property for the upcoming fire season
Footnote: There are other activities occurring at local Rural Fire Brigades throughout the South Burnett this week. Check with you local brigade about any activities they may have planned.
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What is Operation Cool Burn?
Operation Cool Burn involves Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, local councils and landholders across the State.
The aim is to “Get Ready” ahead of bushfire season.
Firefighters identify bushfire-prone areas, prioritise areas to conduct mitigation activities and engage with local landholders to assist them with reducing their risk through activities such as controlled burns.
As well, firefighters’ local communities prepare for the upcoming bushfire season by delivering bushfire preparedness information.
QFES urges landholders to “Get Ready” too by reducing fire risk on their properties.
“If you own the fuel, you own the fire.”
Hazard reduction burns aren’t the only form of mitigation landholders can use to reduce fuel loads.
They can also put in fire breaks, clear up their property, slash overgrowth, ensure they have enough firefighting equipment on hand and create a property fire management plan.
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Do You Know The Different Bushfire Warnings?
Emergency services personnel issue bushfire warning messages (referred to as “community warnings”) through the media and social media during significant bushfire incidents that may threaten life and property.
Community warnings are used to inform residents of threat to properties, time to impact, the direction and strength of the fire and of the steps residents must take to survive.
There are four levels of community warnings which can be issued as an event escalates:
- Advisory – There is a fire in your area, there is currently no threat to property; there is no action required
- Advice – There is a fire in your area, there is currently no threat to property, but stay informed and consider taking a series of preparatory actions
- Watch and Act – There is a fire in your area, you could be impacted and should prepare to enact your Bushfire Survival Plan
- Emergency Warning – There is a fire in your area, you need to enact your Bushfire Survival Plan immediately and prepare for impact
