Parts of South East Queensland are being put under a total fire ban, with a dangerous cocktail of hot and windy conditions threatening to flare up bushfires.
The local fire ban will kick in at midnight tonight and remain in place for six days, until midnight Tuesday, 7 October.
The ban covers the Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic Rim, Brisbane, Noosa, Moreton Bay, Redland, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Local Government Areas.
“Current fire conditions are perfect for bushfires to ignite and spread quickly,” the Queensland Fire Department said.
Under a local fire ban all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated area have been suspended for the duration of the ban.
Power tools can be used during a local fire ban, however QFD encourages people to use them with “extreme care” and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start.
“Everything is ready to burn and we have seen a significant number of fires over the last weekend,” Tim Chittenden from the Queensland Fire Department said.
“No campfires, no fireplaces, bbqs and any sort of fully contained vessel is suitable, but it must be supervised at all times”.
Temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-30s this week.
