Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is urging people to take advantage of its revamped Bushfire Survival Plan after new findings revealed many are unprepared to deal with a bushfire.
Launching the new plan, Commissioner of QFES, Greg Leach said it simplified the process for residents to prepare themselves and their loved ones for a bushfire.
Commissioner Leach said it was essential all households took the time now to complete a plan, tailored to meet their individual circumstances.
“Queensland is on the doorstep of the bushfire season, which means we are about to enter the period when the risk of fires starting and spreading is at its peak,” Commissioner Leach said.
“Unfortunately, our research on people’s attitudes toward bushfire preparation showed about 70 per cent of those who lived close to bushland did not have an up-to-date Bushfire Survival Plan.”
He said around 55 per cent of people surveyed who lived close to bushland had not recently considered whether they would leave or stay if a bushfire was nearby, which was one of the key decisions in a Bushfire Survival Plan.
“These are concerning results because a Bushfire Survival Plan is one of the most effective tools people can have when confronted by a fire,” Commissioner Leach said.
“It asks people to consider actions they will take to survive a bushfire, which is why all households should have one.”
He said an awareness campaign, launched in tandem with the revised plan, included on-the-ground engagement with the community, backed up by multi-platform advertising.
“People can expect to see or hear information about Bushfire Survival Plans on television, radio, billboards and social media because we want everyone to be aware of, and have access to, this life-saving resource,” Commissioner Leach said.
