Plea to hold your fire

No permits without ‘really good reason’

CAUTIOUS firefighting bosses have told Far North landowners they will need to have “good reason” to light fires on their properties in an urgent bid to prevent major bushfire outbreaks in hot and dry conditions.

Fire permits are now being issued on a “case-by-case” basis in the region and can only be given out by the chief fire warden in the area, rather than the previous practice where local volunteer wardens could approve controlled burns.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Rural Fire Service acting regional manager Peter Ruddick said the Far North had never enacted a total fire ban, but the service had decided to take the latest step with little chance of an early wet season.

Most of the region is at a very high risk of fires until Thursday, when conditions begin to ease.

But Mr Ruddick said the service was desperate to avoid a repeat of early September when more than 20 fires sprang up within days and burned through thousands of hectares across the Tablelands.

“We’re still issuing permits, but they are on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

“We’ve got to take a stronger line to say if people want to introduce fire into the landscape at this time of year they’ve got to have a really good reason.

“If we can’t get the general public to undertake what QFES promotes – getting their burns done before September – this is one way we can (help reduce the threat).”

He said a stronger stance was being taken on those behind deliberately lit fires, which was the case for at least three which posed a threat last month.

“Enough is enough and if there is arson there will be police around to your house,” he said.

QFES has issued a fresh warning to residents to have their fire plans in place.

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