Pollyana

Worth keeping your eyes and ears open....... several controlled burns going on, but also some unplanned fires have been breaking out.

http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/

http://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/About/

and make sure your bushfire survival plans are up-to-date

DeadVim

I've still not unpacked the 'Important Stuff' box from January ... Reminds me, must get the irrigation system up and running for house protection mode.

We had a fire in the forest last week actually, it's really dry around here, could be a tricky season.

Pollyana

Yeah I agree, could be tricky this year. its been so dry the last month or so, really low humidity, plus a lot of growth in some areas after so much rain earlier in the year.

DeadVim

We've gone into serious water conservation mode, the indicator on the tank is heading south and I'm not sure where 'empty' is.

I've just cleaned out the gutters and the patio roof, we could do with a shower to freshen the place up.

But I'll gladly pay for a tanker if it means the cricket semi goes ahead in 2 weeks.

Pollyana

Doesn't look like much more than the odd shower on the horizon for a while.....

DeadVim

Got a house full of smoke tonight, the evening's entertainment has been a bushfire quite close. Might have been choppers in there earlier, not sure.

Good news is that the fireys (firies?) got it sorted quick and that much fuel has been burnt off ... Good job all

Going to be a long haul this year.

Sherlock Holmes

and that's just on B.E.

Pollyana

Was that the Kooralbyn one? That was looking dicey for a while, and yes I think they may well have had choppers down there

DeadVim

A bit too far south for us, the choppers may have just been en-route then.

Going for a wander with the dog later to scope out the damage ...

Pollyana

Kooralbyn was big, they were still damping today, thats the only sizeable one I could find down your way. They reckon the smoke was travelling a long way too. There are a lot of small ones springing up though......keep your wits about you

Alfresco

T'will be interesting to see. After last years constant rain, I can't believe it will be that dry.

Always saw on the news in the UK all the bushfires in Oz, especially NSW, and south etc...

DeadVim

Ta, I was in the forest today with the dog and it looked pretty localised, the neighbour who has been here forever was freaking out with me though so I don't feel so silly

Cleaned out the gutters today and cleared some fallen sticks. Ran the pump from the dam to the irrigation system and all good.

DeadVim

More fires in the UK at the moment as far as I can tell

Pollyana

http://www.news.com.au/scrub-fire-th...-1226112486054 bit further north admittedly. There have also been several near Gladstone, and the Kooralbyn one near Beaudesert. Several small ones in the usual spots along the Gateway up Boondal way this week too.

Keep an eye on http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/ for major updates

Pollyana

Kooralbyn fire has flared up again, also a big one near Lion Mountain, Rockhampton.


Couple of new links....

https://www.facebook.com/QldFireandRescueService
and
http://twitter.com/#!/QldFire

Worth monitoring if in a bushfire area. Both official sites - the Department has finally given the OK to social media accounts