November 15, 2022
A fire ban will be in force in six local council areas – including Somerset – from midnight on Tuesday (November).
The Rural Fire Service announced the Local Fire Ban late on Tuesday afternoon.
An RFS spokesperson said expected hot and dry conditions on Wednesday could create an environment for bushfires to ignite and spread quickly.
The ban will affect residents in the Gold Coast, Logan, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley and Somerset council areas and will be in place at least until 11:59pm on Wednesday.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has posted an Extreme Fire Danger rating for the south-east Queensland coast on Wednesday, while the Wide Bay Burnett has a High rating for Wednesday and Thursday.
During a Local Fire Ban all open fires are prohibited and all permits to light fires which have been issued in the designated area are cancelled.
Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however the RFS has encouraged people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which might start.
This includes having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.
Footnote: Following the recent restructure of Queensland fire services, the Rural Fire Service’s website is no longer in operation. Fire Danger Ratings can now be found on the QFES website and the BOM website
