Are you prepared?

2010 bushfire warnings & fire safety messaging

Queensland’s bushfire season may be over but the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) is advising that people should start preparing now for the next bushfire season later this year.

QFRS Assistant Commissioner for South Eastern Region Peter Beauchamp said many people may not realise they are at risk and as a result don’t consider the need to prepare their home.

“We often hear members of the public say ‘brick houses do not burn’ and ‘bushfires only affect those in the rural areas’ but that is not the case,” he said.

“Be assured that brick homes and their contents are just as at risk as wooden homes. Further, bushfires can affect small as well as major areas of land. Tiny embers fly for kilometres. Wind can roar along at unbelievable speeds and flames jump roads and, indeed, structures to affect those on the other side.”

“What if you had to travel in a bushfire prone area for a day trip, whether for business or pleasure, a weekender or a major holiday? Would you know what to do if a bushfire threatened?

“If a relative or friend were staying at your home? Would they know what to do? These are all questions worth considering when you are preparing for bushfires.”

Being home fire safe and bushfire prepared is everybody’s business.

The following information is intended to inform you about the new fire danger rating system and bushfire messaging. The QFRS hopes this assists you to familiarise yourself with the new terms in readiness for Queensland’s bushfire season later this year.

Fire Danger Rating Scale:

On Oct 1 last year Queensland adopted the new national bushfire warning system that has added two risk levels to the Fire Danger Rating Scale - Severe and Catastrophic. These relate to the forecast bushfire danger. That is, what the weather and conditions on the ground, including public behaviour such as lighting fires under fire ban conditions, may cause

• Low-moderate 
• High  
• Very High
• Severe 
• Extreme 
• Catastrophic

The Bureau of Meteorology fire weather forecast records indicate no cases of catastrophic rating in Queensland.

Community Messaging:

The Fire Danger Ratings are used as a trigger for the level of messaging the QFRS provides to the community:

Advice - Fire has started. There is NO immediate danger Watch and Act - A heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing. You need to start taking ACTION NOW to protect you and your family. Emergency Warning - You may be in danger and need to take ACTION IMMEDIATLEY. Any delay now puts your life at risk. This warning will be accompanied by the State Emergency Warning Signal siren.

Bushfire warnings and fire safety messages will be sent out via TV and radio, and your local emergency services will assist when particular areas are considered to be under imminent or immediate danger. They may remind residents of actions depending upon the level of the threat.

[EDITOR: Text Box Example Suggestion:]

[Under a Very High to Severe Fire Danger Rating fires can threaten suddenly and without warning. The QFRS would send out a Watch and Act message. This means residents should examine their Bushfire Plan and, if it is to leave, get ready to relocate to a safer area.]

Emergency Alert

Another tool to assist in warning Queenslanders is the new national Emergency Alert system that can provide 18 000 text messages to mobile phones and 1000 automated landline voice messages per minute in areas of serious risk. They will contain basic details of the threat, recommended actions and advice on where to go for more information. You do not have to register for this service – it is provided automatically through Telstra.

A national media campaign is currently running to inform you of his new system, and anyone wanting to know more can log on to www.emergencyalert.gov.au

Information on current Queensland fire bans, daily fire activity and fire safety is provided by: 

• QFRS Rural Operations at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or www.fire.qld.gov.au  
• Your local media via up-to-date advice direct from the Department of Community Safety.

Communication and Education - Helping You Stay Safe

The QFRS also provides a number of FREE community safety programmes for Queensland residents. 

• Bushfire Prepared Communities is run by QFRS representatives for groups or information can be posted out to residents. A new bushfire safety campaign - ‘Prepare, Act, Survive’ - will be released prior to the 2010-2011 bushfire season later this year. 
• Safehome focuses on fire safety within your own home, whether in the urban to the rural environment, and is undertaken via a visit by your local fire crew.

For further information and bookings for all QFRS community education programmes visit www.fire.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 003.