Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has advised communities they should be preparing now for the next bushfire season later in the year.
QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said people should be proactive in the wake of a severe 2019 bushfire season which burnt more than 7.7 million hectares of land and destroyed 49 houses, 68 sheds and five commercial buildings.
“The impact of the prolonged and heightened 2019 bushfire season should prompt residents to spend time preparing now,” Commissioner Leach said.
He said Queenslanders could use the time they were forced to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to make preparations.
“An adequately prepared property can help reduce the severity of a bushfire, which is why everyone in rural and urban areas needs to take simple steps now to prepare their properties,” he said.
“Residents can remove leaves and leaf litter, clear gutters, trim overhanging branches and keep lawns short to prevent bush and grass fires from starting and spreading on their property.”
Commissioner Leach encouraged residents to reach out to their local Rural Fire Service brigade if they needed assistance.
“Residents can contact their local rural fire brigade and fire wardens for advice, assistance and ideas on how to prepare their individual properties,” he said.
“We will be working to minimise the bushfire risk, but bushfire prevention is a community effort,” the Commissioner said.
