Gold Coast fire: ‘Savage’ bushfire threat for city as residents fail to get their permits

Firefighters are being called out to unauthorised burns across the Gold Coast as residents fail to get permits for fires in their backyard.

BUSHFIRES are generally the last thing on most people’s minds in the middle of winter, but firefighters warn the start of the fire season could be closer than expected.

July is “critical” to the bushfire season — last year the region saw its first blaze of the season on July 19.

Officially the season won’t start until September, but grassfires are common as early as August, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ Alan Gillespie said.

The southeast regional manager said there are worrying signs a long, severe bushfire season is on the way, and firefighters will go in all guns blazing to keep the Gold Coast safe.

“We do a lot of our training at this time of year, we’re really gearing up for it,” Mr Gillespie said.

A firefighter works against a bushfire in Bonogin. Picture by Scott Fletcher

“Right now southeast Queensland is in the top three for high-risk areas in Queensland.

“Come August and September we’re expecting a pretty savage bushfire season … it could be

similar to last year, maybe worse.”

Last year fires tore through grassland on the Gold Coast, burning through hectares at Wongawallan, Oxenford, Upper Coomera, and, as recently as January, at Maudsland.

Mr Gillespie warned residents to prepare their homes for the onslaught of possible fires.

“The Bureau (of Meteorology) is telling us to expect hot and dry conditions and while the Gold Coast has had some good rain and it’s looking quite green in the hinterland at the moment, that will dry out eventually and add to the fuel load,” he said.

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A bushfire tears through Maudsland, blowing smoke over Pacific Pines in January, 2019. Photo: Cam Neville / Aurora Photos

Mr Gillepsie said while it was great to see locals getting prepared by doing hazard reduction burns on their properties, there were a disturbing number of people flouting the rules and burning off without a permit.

“We’ve seen about 25 cases across the region in the last couple of months and that is concerning,” he said.

“It’s mostly properties in the rural hinterland of the Gold Coast, from Mudgeeraba all the way to Beenleigh, we’ve got people who are either ignoring or are ignorant of requirements to get a permit.”

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Homes under threat at Maudsland, December 2018. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Gillespie said the unnecessary call outs for volunteer firefighters was costing valuable manpower when it came to fighting legitimate threats.

“We have some members of the community, not a lot but some, doing the wrong thing,” he said.

“Under these conditions, it only takes one unauthorised burn to get out of hand to threaten lives and properties.

“Residents caught conducting unauthorised burns on their properties could face hefty fines or even imprisonment.”

He urged residents wanting to have controlled burns on their properties to contact the fire warden to apply for a free permit.

To register for a permit visit www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au.