Brisbane City Council is on high alert with more than 100 staff and 25 vehicles on standby as severe fire conditions descend on Queensland and a State of Fire Emergency is declared for the Brisbane local government area.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner met with SES Deputy Local Controller Reece Milburn today for a briefing on preparations for the ongoing dire conditions which are expected to worsen in Brisbane tomorrow.
“Tinder-dry conditions combined with powerful winds forecast for tomorrow are a lethal combination when it comes to fires starting and can cause fires to quickly get out of control,” Cr Schrinner said.
“I am urging every Brisbane resident to prepare their property now and be vigilant. Do not use power tools or lawn mowers, or any equipment that could spark a fire.
“We have catastrophic fire conditions down south and severe conditions continuing across Queensland, and just last week we saw a fire threatening homes at The Gap.
“This threat tomorrow is real, and we need to be prepared for the worst and be aware of our surroundings.
“We have staff patrolling known areas for fires in Brisbane, including Karawatha Forest, Whites Hill Reserve, Boondall Wetlands and the Bayside Parklands and scanning for any smoke or smell of fire.
“We have more than 100 fire-trained staff and 25 vehicles ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
“These patrols are critical to being able to respond quickly if a fire did break out and to stop any fire from escalating.”
Cr Schrinner said Brisbane was among 42 local government areas where a State of Fire Emergency had been declared, and Council was ready to act.
“People have been killed or injured and homes lost across the state and just to our south. We have not faced a horrific fire on our doorstop here in Brisbane, but Council is preparing for the possibility of fast-moving fires impacting Brisbane,” he said.
“We encourage residents to keep their grass short, move flammable items away from homes and clear their gutters.
“A little bit of planning can go a long way and I encourage residents to create a bushfire survival plan and pack an emergency kit.
“Emergency kits should include items you would need for several days, such as food and water, medical supplies, clothing, footwear and important documents.
“Spending some time now preparing for an extreme weather event minimises risk and will help you to protect yourself and your loved ones should we be faced with a bushfire threat.”