COOL BURN EXTENDED AS WET WEATHER SETTLES IN
RESIDENTS have extra time to burn off any excess grass and debris on their property thanks to the unseasonably wet winter.
Rural Fire Service acting area director for the Darling Downs Michael Welsh said Operation Cool Burn – the annual fire mitigation and hazard reduction program – had been extended by a month.
“We managed to get some early hazard reduction burns in before the rain and all other works, such as cutting fire breaks and community engagement works have been completed.” he said.
While the hazard reduction burns are behind schedule, Mr Welsh said there was not much that could be done until the land dried out.
“The Bureau of Meteorhampered
ology has come out and said that there will be a wetter spring than the average – what that means for us we will have to wait and see,” he said.
The forest country along the Toowoomba Range remains far too damp to burn off while the ground moisture in the Southern Downs has
access to farms.
“The biggest issue we have had is that we can’t get the trucks onto that country because they get bogged,” Mr Welsh said.
Luckily, the wet weather in the south means there will be plenty of water in the farm dams should fireys need to access it.
While the south looked good, Mr Welsh said he had serious concerns about the grass country around Crow’s Nest, where there had been less rainfall and plenty of time for vegetation to dry out.
“It has all frosted off and there is lots of fuel that will carry fire,” he said.
“We are encouraging people to get out and do some hazard reduction work.
“Go to your local fire warden and get a permit.”