Average fire conditions are expected for Logan and south-east Queensland over the winter months, according to the Queensland Fire Department Acting Assistant Chief Matthew Harris.
“It’s not out of the question that we might have some bush fires occur,” he said.
“But certainly, this time of year is not primarily our fire season.
“For us, it’s typically around August that starts to happen around Logan.”
In Logan and south-east Queensland, the bushfire season commences in August each year when warm, windy, and dry weather conditions settle in.
“For the next three months, with average fire conditions expected, it’s a great time to think towards our mitigation activities,” AC Harris said.
Above-average autumn rainfall and the effects of tropical cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland mean there will be a greater bushfire fuel load, which will be important to manage over the coming dry winter months.
Hazard reduction burning is just one strategy of fire mitigation, AC Harris said.
Garden maintenance like mowing, trimming overhanging branches, and removing any flammable material close to properties can be done by local residents to mitigate the bushfire risk.
“All of those [fire mitigation strategies] work together to reduce the overall bush fire risk.”
Landowners and residents can apply for a permit to light a fire greater than two metres in any direction, which allows residents to conduct small hazard reduction burns on their property.
Understanding local fire laws is crucial for residents seeking to conduct hazard reduction burns on their property, AC Harris said.
“It’s important also to note, in particular, for the residents of Logan to understand their local laws as well in respect to the use of fire.”
Hazard reduction burns have already taken place in Karrawatha and Tamborine Mountain National Park, with large amounts of smoke billowing into Logan suburbs.
It’s important for vulnerable community members to stay up to date with smoke hazard warnings and take the necessary precautions like closing doors and windows, AC Harris said.
“It is important to recognize the role hazard reduction burns have in maintaining healthy landscapes and ecosystems locally while also reducing bushfire fuel loads.”
