Doonan volunteer fire fighter Andrew Bell shares tips for the coming fire season, as well as keeping Noosa Today readers up-to-date on the happenings of the Doonan rural fire brigade.
GIDDAY and greetings from the Doonan Rural Fire Brigade.
It is appropriate and apt to remind everyone that we are fast approaching fire season.
Quite recently a call-out to a local Doonan property was the cause of a fairly large private burn without obtaining a fire permit or informing neighbours. The result was that two vehicles from Doonan attended the incident and one from Eumundi.
The startled owner had no idea of the chain of events he had inadvertently initiated.
On arrival, while the land owner thought he had everything under control, a more observant pair of eyes noted flying embers had started to glow and burn at the top of a 20 metre gumtree, which could have spread through the canopy. This was quickly dealt with.
A permit to light a fire is required all year round when grass, stubble, weeds, undergrowth or other vegetation is to be burned. Small fires to burn piles of garden litter less than two metres in any direction only require a permit during declared fire danger periods.
Larger piles/stacks always require a permit.
Permits are available from your local fire warden at no charge but a written application for a permit to light a fire is now required prior to the issue of a permit, and is also available from your local fire warden or can be downloaded from: www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au.
The fire warden may refuse to issue a permit if they believe appropriate safety measures cannot reasonably be achieved.
If you are issued with a permit, the fire warden may impose conditions on the permit to reduce unwanted risk or nuisance to other people, property or to the environment. Once in receipt of a permit, it is your responsibility to meet the conditions outlined on the permit and contain the fire on your property. It is important that neighbours are notified prior to the lighting of any fire in the open. This simple courtesy will enable neighbours to close windows, collect washing, and make whatever other preparation they feel necessary.
To obtain a permit, you can phone: Doonan: 0408 656 999 (Ian). Verrierdale: 07 5449 1812 (Tom). Eumundi East: 0408 992 139 (Bill).
Please take note and take care this fire season.
