February 23, 2021
A fire that broke out at the weekend in the Widgee area is a sharp reminder the bushfire season in the South and North Burnett areas is not yet over.
Multiple fire crews were called to the blaze, burning west of Gympie-Woolooga Road and north of Thornside Road, prompting a QFES alert to local residents.
On Tuesday morning, fire crews were also called to a vegetation fire burning near Goonuloom and Planted Creek roads at Tansey.
Rural Fire Service bushfire safety officer for the North Coast Region Shaune Toohey told southburnett.com.au the season was extending longer than the usual.
“We haven’t had the seasonal rains that usually come in,” Mr Toohey said.
He said there was still a lot of available fuel on the ground, particularly grass, which was an issue with the recent high temperatures.
“We are looking at an extension to the traditional fire season which usually finishes up around February when those seasonal rains come in,” he said.
He urged property owners to continue the work of keeping areas around buildings clear, ensuring there is clear access to their properties for emergency vehicles and, most importantly, reporting any signs of smoke to Triple 0 (000) immediately.
“The more Triple 0 calls we get, the more information we get about an incident which always helps,” Mr Toohey said.
