As we witnessed in late 2019 into 2020, bushfires in Australia can cause devastating effects, widespread damage and loss of life.
It’s important that national parks, rural properties and homes near to bushland prepare for the summer bushfire season to help reduce these impacts early.
The QLD RFS is now calling on property owners to start preparing for the bushfire season following recent early fires in Gladstone and Rockhampton
Brisbane home and property homeowners should also be aware of this situation and commence preparations in advance of the season.
The QLD RFS has already commenced ‘Operation Cool Burn’, which is an annual initiative that runs in the lead-up to bushfire season in favourable weather conditions.
Firebreaks and Slashing
Firebreaks serve to protect property and provide fire crews with access to areas if they need to respond to a location.
State Vegetation Management laws, under broad ‘exempt clearing work’ provisions set out that for the purposes of bushfire mitigation landholders may clear to establish or maintain:
• a fire break to protect infrastructure (other than a fence, road or vehicular track) up to 1.5 times the height of the tallest adjacent vegetation or 20m (whichever is wider).
• a fire management line of 10m width.
• clearing to establish or maintain a fence up to 10m wide – providing a fire management line on the boundary of all properties.
(Reference: QLD Fire and Emergency Services)
It’s also important to ensure that you have a Bushfire Survival Plan in place. For more information, visit the Rural Fire Service website.
Additional measures should also be taken around the home including:
- Storage of fuel and gas in a shed away from the home.
- Remove debris and waste products from around the home yard.
- Cut long grass within 30 meters of the home. Slashing services can manage this task.
- Maintain gardens around the home, remove overhanging branches.
- Clean gutters of tree waste and install a mesh barrier.
Slashing
Slashing properties requires specialist heavy equipment to complete the job and knowledge on how to do so effectively. Properties can have dozens, sometimes hundreds of acres to slash with sloped ground and hard to get to places, so this equipment is vital in completing the job.
Slashing and clearing is done in a manner that is environmentally friendly to the grounds and wildlife in the area. We can also control weeds to stop their growth in the space. This reduces the fuels on the ground and some trees that could be consumed in the event of a fire.
We will also manage erosion control of fence lines and firebreaks. Runoff can cause erosion issues in these places so it’s important to ensure this is well managed to secure the integrity of fences and the fire break.
We can also assist in the maintenance and creation of fire trails on a property to provide access to fire crews in the event of a bushfire.
Arrange a free quote
For more information and to arrange a free quote on these services, contact us today.
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