November 30, 2018
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has advised that the Local Fire Ban imposed on Wednesday has been extended.
It will now remain in place until 10:00am on Sunday (December 2), unless extended.
The local fire ban applies to residents in the South Burnett, North Burnett, Cherbourg, Gympie, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Sunshine Coast and Noosa council areas.
A local fire ban for the Toowoomba Regional Council area is also in place until 11:59pm Friday night (unless extended).
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UPDATE 1: The local fire ban in Toowoomba Regional Council area has been extended to 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 4. This ban also includes residents in the Southern Downs, Goondiwindi, Western Downs and Maranoa council areas.
UPDATE 2: The local fire ban in the North Burnett, South Burnett, Cherbourg Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Local Government areas is expected to remain in place until 00:00hrs Wednesday, December 5.
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HQPlantations have advised that all pine plantations managed by them in Queensland State forests and on HQPlantations freehold land have been closed to the public until next Wednesday due to very high fire danger.
All plantation areas are affected, including popular recreation areas at Beerburrum (including the Glasshouse Mountains), Fraser Coast, Elliott River, Mary Valley, Blackbutt, Passchendaele, Byfield, Cathu, Ingham, Cardwell and Atherton.
Acting Chief Operating Officer Lester Jarick said the decision hadn’t been made lightly.
“Very high fire danger is not only related to extreme temperatures but also low humidity, wind speed, drought factor and grassfire and forest fire danger indexes,” he said.
“Our first regard is for pubic safety in the event there is a fire, however public access also introduces a higher risk of fires starting due to hot exhausts in proximity with dry grass and unsafe behaviour like discarding cigarettes.”
The plantations are closed to all public access until at least December 5, at which time a re-assessment of risks will be undertaken.
[UPDATED]
I am sure hot exhausts are irrelevant; it’s the Government’s total incapacity to manage hazard control.