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Friday 06 November 2009 Morning Round up

11/6/2009

Southern Queensland – storm damage
SES volunteers attended to 66 storm damage jobs across southern Queensland as a result of yesterday afternoon’s storms. The majority of jobs were in Ipswich, Laidley and Allora (north of Warwick).

A nursing home in Allora suffered damage to every sky light in the building and a house in the area suffered damage to its veranda. The majority of requests for assistance were for minor storm damage such as leaky roofs.

A house on Winani Drive at Ashmore on the Gold Coast was struck by lightning shortly before 11pm. It is believed the home’s electrical box imploded and emergency services found it in the street. Also, part of the roof collapsed as a result of the strike. The occupants of the house were treated by paramedics at the scene for minor grazes due to shattering glass. SES volunteers tarped the roof to protect the occupants’ belongings but the residents chose to stay with neighbours overnight.

Woolooga - grass fire
Firefighters conducted backburning and put in fire breaks to protect properties in the Woolooga area, south west of Maryborough, last night. The fire, which had been burning since Wednesday, has burnt more than 40 acres of grass and bush. A dozer was also used to create firebreaks around properties in the area. Urban and Rural firefighters worked together to battle the blaze and the threat last night was controlled with the fire heading into inaccessible land. Crews will return this morning. There are no houses under threat from the fire at this time.

FIRE BANS
Fire bans will remain in place for the following Local Government areas until midnight on Friday 6 November: North Burnett, Fraser Coast, South Burnett, Gympie, Cherbourg and Bundaberg.

Fire bans will remain in place for the following Local Government areas until midnight on Monday 9 November: Whitsunday, Burdekin, Townsville, Charters Towers, Richmond, Mackay, Isaac, Banana, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Fire bans in these areas may be extended again if dangerous fire conditions continue.

The Rural Fire Service has put a ban on the lighting of all fires in the above Local Government areas, including permit fires as a precaution with high, and at times extreme, conditions expected to continue.

The following exemptions apply under fire ban conditions:
• The use of gas and electric barbecues are permitted provided they are not left unattended. The use of wood fire barbecues is prohibited;
• Fires for the purpose of disposal of animal carcasses are permitted, subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by the local Fire Warden;
• Fires of commercial necessity are permitted subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by the Area Director Rural Operations;
• Fires for the purpose of burning standing sugar cane for harvest in accordance with the established practice of the industry; and
• Fires for the purpose of burning sugar cane tops and trash on cane production land between the hours of 1800 (6.00 pm) and 0900 (9.00 am).

Regular updated information will be provided on the QFRS Rural Operations website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or at www.fire.qld.gov.au or by listening to your local radio station.

Media note: When quoting members of the media unit, please refer to a spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety. Thank you.


Contact: For more information contact Department of Community Safety Media on 3247 8186

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