Central Highlands prepare for weekend fire conditions

The Central Highlands Regional Council’s Local Disaster Coordination Centre remains active after an unprecedented wide-spread catastrophic fire danger rating across the region was called on Tuesday.

Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group Mayor Kerry Hayes said that three fires are being monitored and coordinated in the region.

‘Crews continue to work on fires around the Carnarvon National Park access, near the Tieri landfill and authorities are closely monitoring a fire in the Expedition Range around the Blackdown Tablelands National Park,’ he said.

The Local Disaster Management Group is working collaboratively with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Science and Environment and landholders to manage the Expedition Range fire.

‘All the authorities and the landholders are taking a coordinated and practical approach to manage this fire while conditions are in our favour,’ Mayor Hayes said.

‘With temperatures expected to rise again on the weekend, now is a good time to get prepared and make things safe.’

Mayor Hayes said there is no reason for people to panic however, even if there is no direct threat to towns and not everybody can see smoke, it’s important that people remain vigilant.

‘People should use the Central Highlands Emergency Management Dashboard as a one-stop information source,’ he said.

‘The Emergency Management Dashboard links directly to official sources for fires, flooding, road and school closures, power outages and evacuation centres and has a list of useful emergency contacts.’

Mayor Hayes also said it is a time of community support and council recognises the dedicated work of emergency service personnel, authorities and volunteers in the Central Highlands and beyond.

Visit the Emergency Management Dashboard here.