Redlands Coast residents urged to be prepared for long fire season

Redland City Council is urging all Redlands Coast residents to be ready and prepared for the continuing fire season.

Mayor Karen Williams said the devastating national bushfire emergencies were a powerful reminder for all local households to have an emergency plan and to be prepared.

“Council and our local emergency services and agencies are continually working to ‘Get Ready’ and to prepare the city for local emergencies,” she said.

“All QFES and Rural Fire stations on Redlands Coast remain fully prepared.”

Cr Williams said Council’s Local Disaster Coordination Centre was also prepared for immediate activation and Council’s Disaster Planning and Operations Team was maintaining a watching brief on current conditions and received daily briefings from the State Disaster Coordination Centre.

“What people are experiencing in these areas is a powerful reminder that when local fires, storms and floods do occur, our community must have their household emergency plans and know how to respond in an emergency,” she said.

“Emergencies can happen fast and can be frightening and, at times, confusing.

Cr Williams said Council’s Disaster Management Plans for each suburb and island were available on Council’s Redlands Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au

“Council is well prepared, with conditions having allowed 28 prescribed burns in 2019 – an increase of approximately 65 per cent over 2018,” she said.

“Extensive maintenance work has continued across the city’s large network of trails in addition to new trail work at Lagoon Road, Russell Island and planning for further mainland fire trail infrastructure.

“Emergency response teams have also participated in several joint disaster rehearsal exercises designed to help ensure complete readiness.”

Cr Williams said that while Council and emergency agencies had been working hard to prepare the city, it was important everyone in the city took steps now to prepare themselves and their properties.

“I urge everyone to do so also as a mark of respect for those who stand ready to help us when we need them,” she said.

“You and your family will feel safer and more confident if you have prepared, rehearsed and planned.

“Do you know where to go and what is your best escape route in an emergency?

“Have you prepared your ready-to-go emergency kit with vital family documents, prescriptions and essential contacts?

“Have you cleared your gutters and all rubbish away from houses and buildings?

“Do you know your neighbours and what you or they can do to help in an emergency?

“Have you identified somewhere safe or someone who can help look after your pets and livestock?”

Be prepared for fires 

Simple tasks you can do today: · Create an emergency evacuation kit · Have a plan for what you would do and where you would go in an emergency · Get to know who your neighbours are so you can be a source of support for each other during emergencies · There is great advice about preparing at Council’s dedicated disaster management website: disaster.redland.qld.gov.au · Also keep an eye on Council’s social media – Facebook and Twitter: you don’t need an account

Additional information for fire preparation: · Keep grass and undergrowth trimmed · Rake up and reduce leaf litter and overgrown shrubs · Remove branches overhanging buildings and leaf litter from roofs and gutters · Store fuels and chemicals away from dwellings · Move woodpiles away from buildings · Seal gaps, vents and roof spaces to prevent embers from entering a building · Display house numbers clearly and provide access for fire trucks