Truck but no station for fire-risky Mt Cotton and Carbrook

A southeast Queensland suburb, labelled one of the greatest fire risks in the state, has been forced to rely on residents to fight fires while it awaits a full-time fire service. But at least now it’s getting a fire truck – just no one to drive it, yet.

A BUSHLAND suburb, labelled one of the greatest fire risks in southeast Queensland, has been forced to rely on residents to fight fires while it awaits a full-time fire service.

But the semirural suburb of Mount Cotton, on the Logan border, will get its own fire truck while it waits.

LOGAN/REDLAND BUSHLAND FIRE HAZARDS

HEFTY FIRE IN FIRE BAN

CALL FOR FIRESTATION

The suburb, next to Logan’s Carbrook, is surrounded by 1500 hectares of bush.

Both neighbourhoods were branded fire hazards by Queensland Fire and Emergency experts in September when tinderbox conditions prevailed.

The plan for a temporary local fire fighting outfit was raised at two community meetings in October.

Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said locals supported a full-time fire service but were still waiting on Acting Fire Commissioner Mike Wassing to assess their application.

Springwood MP Mick de Brenni has pushed for a fire station at Mount Cotton, which is in his electorate and adjoins the Daisy Hill Forest. Picture: Peter Cronin

SUBSCRIPTION BARGAIN: FULL ONLINE ACCESS: $5/MONTH FIRST 3 MONTHS

Today, Mr de Brenni said he had secured a guarantee from Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford for a fire truck “and other resources”.

The truck will be stationed at Mount Cotton, once a local volunteer group is trained in its use.

“I urge all interested local residents to join the existing rural fire service so that they can commence their membership approvals and training and cut down the time required in establishing a local rural presence,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Because parts of our neighbourhood are urban, I believe it’s crucial that local residents in our area also receive enhanced capabilities for responding to house and factory fires, emergency rescues and vehicle accidents, all of which are the responsibility of full-time fire fighters.

“That is why I’ve raised this with the minister.”

Louie Naumovski from Logan House Fire Support Network. Picture: Peter Cronin

Logan House Fire Support Network founder Louie Naumovski said it was crucial to get trained and professional services on the ground and said both the state and Logan City Council needed to do more to protect ratepayers.

“The fire season started three months earlier this year, which is why the state and council need to be proactive all year round,” he said.

“There has been back burning done in the less windy months which is good – but we need to do more.

This house at Buccan was gutted on Friday when a fire ripped through it. PHOTO: AAP/Richard Gosling

“Ratepayers pay a fire levy, which goes to the state, so all suburbs should be protected but it doesn’t seem that way at Mount Cotton.”

The fire levy varies between councils and properties.

He said along with Mt Cotton and the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, the city’s top five hot spots were at First Ave, Marsdenl; south of Green Rd at Park Ridge; Rossmore Rd at Logan Reserve; and Jimboomba.

“The other area to watch is along the Waterford-Tamborine Rd at Buccan, where the drought has hit hard and there are tinderbox conditions,” Mr Naumovski said.

A sign warning about the drought at Buccan where bushfires have been over the weekend.

Logan City Council said it would not declare a “climate emergency” but said more than 1.5ha of its parks had been affected by unplanned burns over the past fortnight.

Parks officers were on standby to play a support role if a wild fire occurred and had already undertaken fire break maintenance on more than 100km of bush.

“Council also has comprehensive plans in place to ensure timely and effective response and recovery from events should a climate-related natural disaster occur,” the council said.

“As current conditions do not allow for further prescribed burns, Logan Council Parks will continue maintaining firebreaks in parks, completing mechanical fuel reduction works and ensuring fire-trained staff are ready.”