Island blaze a sign that bushfire season has arrived

This month’s bushfire on Russell Island marked an early start to the bushfire season and a timely reminder for Redlands Coast residents to prepare now ahead of the hotter months.

Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) Chair Jos Mitchell said that while the Russell Island fire was contained without it damaging infrastructure or private property, it showed how quickly and randomly these fires can start.

“Bushfire season is here. Our first blaze has happened, and we need to reduce the risk of more,” she said.

The Mayor said Redland City Council played its part in reducing bushfire risks across the city by slashing Council-owned land adjoining houses, and creating firebreaks, as well as carrying out controlled burns to reduce fuel loads.

“Coincidentally, a Council Parks and Conservation fire management team was on Russell Island finishing up a week-long schedule of planned burns when the 6 September bushfire broke-out on another part of the island, further south from where they were,” she said.

Council’s team was notified of the fire at Turtle Swamp by Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) who earlier had been working alongside Council on the week-long planned burn. RFSQ were on scene at Turtle Swamp and had taken charge of firefighting efforts.

As the Council team was still on the island with their equipment, they were able to immediately head over and support the RFSQ team.

“The crews were successful in ensuring the fire didn’t cross Centre Road, nor to the other side of the swamp where key powerlines to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and North Stradbroke Island are located,” the Mayor said.

“Whether you live on the islands, or on the mainland, this bushfire acts as a reminder that now is the time for households to identify and reduce bushfire risks on their property.

“Simple steps you can take include clearing debris from roofs and gutters, trimming branches that overhang dwellings, and removing overgrown vegetation.

“You should also prepare an emergency kit and ensure you have a bushfire management plan in place for your household.”

Division 5 Councillor Shane Rendalls congratulated the RFSQ and Council teams for getting the island bushfire under control efficiently and effectively.

“The ongoing partnership with RFSQ and the experience of the crews involved was critical in the successful containment of the fire,” Cr Rendalls said.

“An early estimate is that about half a hectare was burnt during the Turtle Swamp fire. This area is now actually safer from a bushfire risk perspective as the undergrowth has been cleared.”

For more advice on reducing fire hazards on your property, go online to Council’s bushfire preparedness page or visit the Queensland Fire Department website at fire.qld.gov.au.

Residents can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency notification messaging service, Redland Coast Alerts, via the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au.