January 21, 2020
A recent bushfire burning in the foothills of the Bunya Mountains has prompted local residents to develop a “ring-around” plan in the event of an emergency.
Bunya Mountains Community Association chairman John Learmont said the fire, which broke out in December, burned close to the boundaries of Russell Park on the Dalby side of the mountains.
National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel joined with local rural brigades from the Bunya Mountains and the Toowoomba region to battle the blaze, which burned for many days.
“If we hadn’t contained it, it would have got into Russell Park and then up the Bunyas,” John said.
John, who is also chairman of the Bunya Mountains Rural Fire Brigade, said local residents and visitors were very concerned when they saw the smoke.
“One of the locals was packed ready to leave,” he said.
John said the “ring-around” list covered Bunya Mountains residents, members of the community association and members of the local rural fire brigade.
He said the association was also meeting with representatives from the Local Disaster Management Groups from the South Burnett Regional Council and the Western Downs Regional Council about plans should an evacuation become necessary for any reason.
“The Bunyas has three access roads and in the 2013 floods all three were cut,” John said.
“The ring-around plan is to disseminate information about how and when to evacuate should the need arise.”
