Rural firies are breathing easy as southeast Queensland’s bushfire season ends before it even begins

Torrential rain has ended the Gold Coast's 2020 bushfire season for now - but it's not all good news for firies.

RURAL firies are breathing easy as southeast Queensland’s bushfire season ends before it even begins.

Queensland Rural Fire Service regional manager, Superintendent Alan Gillespie said widespread rain across the entire region had put out any fears of a repeat of last year’s damaging bushfires.

“It has signalled the end of this year’s bushfire season for some time,” he said.

“We’re breathing easy and it’s a huge relief, especially as we haven’t had decent rain in western parts of the region for a while.”

Supt Gillespie said while the wet weather abated the fire danger, it meant grass would grow and then dry out, causing a hazard for next year’s fire season.

“But it just means our efforts will be focused on fire mitigation programs ahead of the 2021 season,” he said.

“And despite the rain we’re not resting easy, with many crews up at Tamborine Mountain assisting with storm damage — we’re always ready to help no matter what the emergency.”

The downpour is bittersweet for Binna Burra Lodge, which recently opened to guests after being closed for a year following the devastating bushfires of 2019.

Queensland Rural Fire Service regional manager Superintendent Alan Gillespie (centre), with Mt Forbes Rural Fire Brigade members Jason Gillett (left) and Peter Ackerley.

Chairman Steve Noakes said Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service had closed Lamington, Springbrook and Tamborine national parks as well as the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk, until December 16.

“What a contrast it is compared to this time last year, and while it’s most welcome rain, it’s meant quite a few cancellations just as we were starting to ramp back up again,” he said.

“We’re actually a start-up business, despite 87 years, and now to have another intensive weather system hit us. It’s a strain.

“But the big test with this heavy rain is to see how the roadworks will hold up. It’s the first big test for the single-access road, especially the cliff side that was damaged by the bushfire.

“As of midday Monday morning it’s so far so good, but we’ve got a few more days of intensive weather ahead. We’re getting a few rock falls but nothing closing the road.

“Sure, it’s not ideal, but when you put things into perspective there’s others doing it way tougher. We’ve just had to adapt our business model and we’ve had good practice with the bushfires.”

Binna Burra Lodge reopens tomorrow,Chairman Steven Noakes in the Grooms Cottage.. Picture Glenn Hampson

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A RECORD 700 Gold Coasters have signed up to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) since last year’s devastating bushfires.

RFS regional manager superintendent Alan Gillespie said the south east region had been inundated with people volunteering to help during fire emergencies.

“We’ve had an absolutely amazing response with some 7000 new applications for positions across the south east,” he said.

“At least 700 of these are from the Gold Coast, usually we get about 100 new volunteers from the Gold Coast. It’s definitely a record for us.

“They’ve obviously seen that we’ve needed a hand and bushfires are a very real threat, even to the Gold Coast.

“All our new rookies are taught by their crew leaders who are mentoring them to get prepared as we approach the bushfire season.”

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A record number of Gold Coasters have volunteered to help the Rural Fire Service ahead of the region’s bushfire season. Picture: Che Chorley

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Mr Gillespie said the Gold Coast’s bushfire season wouldn’t be “too bad” due to recent rains, but further west and into parts of the Hinterland and Ipswich, things were really dry.

“We’re expecting an intense short sharp grass fire season later this month, this will be challenging for us. But the bureau (of meteorology) says we’re expecting a relatively normal fire season,” he said.

“The coastal strip is not as risky at this point in time and we’re likely to have our normal fire reason that starts about now until the first rains in November.

“But this depends on whether we have those dry westerly winds to dry out the grass. I suppose it depends on how angry mother nature wants to get.”

Rural firies crew leader Jordan Sugar with Matt Canafe and Adrianna Tkac take part in the third annual Gold Coast Group Exercise hosted by the Gold Coast Rural Fire Brigade Group. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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Mr Gillespie was in Mudgeeraba on Saturday as the Gold Coast Rural Fire Brigade Group hosted the third annual Gold Coast Group Exercise with 230 volunteers from the south east and northern NSW.

A helicopter, drones, more than 50 appliances and a strike team from the NSW RFS joined PCYC Emergency Cadets and nurses from the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Taking part in six rotations, including a burn over drill, first aid response and team building exercises, Mr Gillespie said at the end of the day it was a tie between Bonogin and Uki.

“We’ve officially agreed NSW will take the trophy for six months and we’ll reclaim it after that. Then from August next year we’ll start the official RFS State of Origin competition.”