Pollyana

With the low humidity and the gusty winds Queenskand is moving full-pelt into this year's bushfire season.
If you live in a bushfire-prone area, review your plans and kits; even if you don't its a good idea to remember that bushfires can break out in unexpected areas, so wherever you are don't get complacent.

“It is essential for everyone to have a Bushfire Survival Plan to detail exactly how you will prepare and what action you will take if threatened by a bushfire,” Mr Hazell, Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) Acting Northern Region Manager, said.

“A well-prepared home will increase the chance of survival.”

Mr Hazell said the plan must be in writing, practiced regularly and take into consideration the ages and physical capabilities of everyone in your household including children and the elderly.“Once a Bushfire Survival Plan is in place it is important for people to know what action to take when a bushfire approaches,” he said.

“This can include: monitoring your local radio and television for updates; locating your bushfire kit, which you would have prepared earlier; putting on protective clothing; drinking plenty of water; and moving all loose furniture inside and cars into secure undercover locations, where possible.

“On a severe, extreme or catastrophic fire weather day the safest option for survival is to leave well in advance of any fire.“Vulnerable members of the community, including the young and elderly, are advised to leave well before bushfire strikes and not be part of any plan to stay and defend their property.”

Mr Hazell also reminded landholders of their responsibility to reduce bushfire risk on their land, ahead of bushfire season.

“Property owners are responsible to make and maintain fire breaks on their own land, remove and dispose of any vegetation or flammable material that poses a fire risk, and take steps to obtain and keep fire fighting equipment,” he said.

For further information on developing a Bushfire Survival Plan, preparing for bushfire season, learning what to do when a bushfire approaches and downloading a Bushfire Survival Plan, visit www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au.

Current incidents in Queensland are listed here:
https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/news/default.asp

Emergency Alert (EA) may be used if your area is threatened by bushfires - this is not just for Queensland and not just for bushfires, so be familiar with it:

Emergency Alert is the national telephone warning system used by emergency management agencies. The system sends voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones within a defined area, about likely or actual emergencies such as fire, flood, or extreme weather events.

Big change with EA in the last few months is that since December 2012, the system has the capability to send a text message to mobile phones active on Telstra’s networks with a last known location within the warning area - so if you have a telstra mobile it now works by recognising your location as well as your billing address. This should be available for Optus and Vodaphone by November, at present they only issue alerts based on billing address.

Pollyana

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Queensland Rural Fire Service - see here :

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

We have several Rurals on the site already in various States who can tell you what an important role they play.