Bribie Island and Beerburrum State Forest will transform into a hub of activity as firefighters finalise preparations for the upcoming bushfire season.
On Thursday July 28, weather permitting, almost 800 hectares of Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) and Moreton Bay Regional Council land on Bribie Island and up to 1000 hectares of DERM land and Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) Pty Ltd plantation in the Beerburrum-Woodford area will be set alight in a large-scale hazard reduction burn.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson said these burns were vital to protect life and property during bushfire season.
“By burning approximately 1800 hectares of land at these two locations fire management agencies are able to almost eliminate this area from burning during a wildfire,” Mr Johnson said.
“QFRS will also use this opportunity to practice and test inter-agency operational capability in response to large scale bushfire events with Incident Management Teams staged at Burpengary, Caloundra and Beerburrum on the day.
“Fire crews will respond to this burn as if it was a real-life wildfire and water bombing aircraft will also be used.
“Rural firefighters and State Emergency Service volunteers will also be actively doorknocking in the area providing valuable information to residents on how to prepare their lives and homes for the upcoming bushfire season.
“Residents are urged to take this opportunity to learn more about the steps they can take to PREPARE.ACT.SURVIVE this bushfire season,” he said.
Forestry Plantations Queensland Wildfire Exercise Coordinator Tony Johnston said this was the third wildfire simulation exercise which had been conducted in the Beerburrum area.
“These simulation exercises were first initiated by FPQ in 2009 and this year will be escalated to further test the current system of FPQ handing over incident control responsibility to QFRS when an incident escalates,” Mr Johnston said.
“While this is an event we hope never eventuates it is vital FPQ are prepared for the possibility.”
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Assistant Director-General Andrea Leverington said the exercise was a valuable opportunity to test agencies’ readiness and communication.
“QPWS manages more than 11 million hectares of public land across the state,” Ms Leverington said.
“In the lead up to wildfire season and through the season, we work closely with other agencies.”
It is anticipated residents in the Woorim Beach, Red Beach and areas surrounding Protea Drive on Bribie Island will be most affected by smoke haze on the day.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) warned residents who suffer from, or are susceptible to respiratory illness to ensure they remain indoors throughout the day and keep their medication close by. If they experience any breathing difficulties they should call triple zero (000) immediately.
This is a joint agency exercise involving the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service; Forestry Plantations Queensland Pty Ltd; Department of Environment and Resource Management including Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, State Land Management and DERM Forest Products; Moreton Bay Regional Council; Sunshine Coast Regional Council; the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Ambulance Service.
