News item

Monday 02 November 2009 Afternoon Round Up

2/11/2009 4:35:51 PM

FIRE BANS
Fire bans will remain in place for the following Local Government areas until midnight on Friday 6 November: North Burnett, Fraser Coast, South Burnett, Gympie, Cherbourg and Bundaberg.

Fire bans will remain in place for the following Local Government areas until midnight on Monday 9 November: Whitsunday, Burdekin, Townsville, Charters Towers, Richmond, Mackay, Isaac, Banana, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Fire bans in these areas may be extended again if dangerous fire conditions continue.

The Rural Fire Service has put a ban on the lighting of all fires in the above Local Government areas, including permit fires as a precaution with high, and at times extreme, conditions expected to continue.

The following exemptions apply under fire ban conditions:
• The use of gas and electric barbecues are permitted provided they are not left unattended. The use of wood fire barbecues is prohibited;
• Fires for the purpose of disposal of animal carcasses are permitted, subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by the local Fire Warden;
• Fires of commercial necessity are permitted subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by the Area Director Rural Operations;
• Fires for the purpose of burning standing sugar cane for harvest in accordance with the established practice of the industry; and
• Fires for the purpose of burning sugar cane tops and trash on cane production land between the hours of 1800 (6.00 pm) and 0900 (9.00 am).

Regular updated information will be provided on the QFRS Rural Operations website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or at www.fire.qld.gov.au or by listening to your local radio station.

SOUTH WEST REGION
Pilton Valley Road, Pilton
Ten rural and two urban fire crews responded to a fire on Pilton Valley Road, Pilton, near Clifton around 1pm. The fire was mainly burning in inaccessible areas, however a school in the area was evacuated for a short period due to large volumes of smoke in the air. Fire crews conducted backburning activities around the school and several homes as a precaution. A grader was also used to establish a fire break near the school. Eight fire crews remain on scene patrolling the edges of the fire. Three sides of the blaze are now contained with fire crews close to containing the fourth flank. Approximately 200 hectares has been burnt by the blaze. No homes are under threat at this time.

NORTH COAST REGION
Gilston Road, Wondunna (Hervey Bay)
Seven rural fire crews and two urban crews are in attendance at a fire located at the end of Gilston Road, Wondunna, in Hervey Bay. The fire started around 11.45am in bushland. Fire crews successfully protected around a dozen homes from the blaze. A control line is now being established to the south east of the fire and firefighters will be conducting backburning activities into the evening. No homes are under threat at this time.


Contact: For more information contact Department of Community Safety on 3247 8186