In preparation for the annual bushfire season, Redland City Council has been slashing Council-owned land, creating fuel free zones (firebreaks), and carrying out controlled burns to reduce fuel loads.
Acting Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Acting Chair Julie Talty said Council’s fire management team was working through a schedule of planned burns across Redlands Coast and its islands.
The work is undertaken in cooperation with the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) and other adjoining land management authorities.
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“The slashing and planned burns make a significant difference to the volume of forest litter, such as dead branches and leaves and grasses, which act as a fuel source during bushfires,” Cr Talty said.
READ MORE / “Blazing a line of defence against bushfires” / Our Redlands Coast online
“Not only do the burns reduce fire danger, but they make it easier to access areas to fight bushfires.
“Council would like to remind residents that the cooler months provide an ideal opportunity to consider being bushfire prepared and to take actions to ensure the safety of your household and property.”
Here are a few ways that you can create an effective fire break around your property:
- Mow grass regularly
- Remove excess ground fuel, such as vegetation or wood
- Remove excess ladder fuels (materials which, when burning, allow a fire to climb)
- Clear leaves from gutters, downpipes and roofs
- Trim low-lying branches that surround your home to at least 2m off the ground
- Remove unnecessary fuel and combustible material stored on or around your property (store it in a safe location)
- Avoid piling up material against your home, sheds and fences, or near livestock and areas of environmental or cultural significance
It is also recommended that you check surrounding grassland and bushland for bushfire risk, which increases in areas containing leaves, bark, twigs and cured brown grass.
Approximately 1cm depth of fuel on the ground could carry a mild fire, while around 6cm depth of fuel presents significant risk.
Practical information on preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters, is available online on Council’s disasters and emergencies page.
For more advice on bushfire preparedness, visit the Queensland Fire Department website at fire.qld.gov.au
Residents can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency notification messaging service, Redlands Coast Alerts, via the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au
