Local Fire Ban

From the QFES Facebook page:

"LOCAL FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

#QFES has imposed local fire restrictions for residents in the Somerset Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Ipswich City Council areas. The restrictions will start from midnight tonight (Friday, 4 Nov) and will initially be in place until midnight Tuesday evening (8 Nov).

Under the local fire restrictions, all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been cancelled.

QFES has also suspended all fire permits in the Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council areas from midnight tonight until midnight Tuesday night.

The following types of fires are permitted during the local fire restrictions, providing conditions are followed:

• Fires within a properly constructed barbeque (gas or electric) if not left unattended;
• Fires for the purpose of disposing of animal carcasses subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by your local fire warden;
• Fires of commercial necessity subject to the issue of a Permit to Light Fire by your local Area Director of Rural Operations;
• Fires lit for the purpose of burning standing sugar cane for harvest in accordance with the established practice of the industry; and
• Fires lit for the purpose of burning sugar cane tops and trash between the hours of 6.00pm and 9.00am.

Power tools may be used during these local fire restrictions, however we encourage people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start. This may include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.

For more information contact your local fire warden or call 1300 369 003. To locate your local fire warden visit www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au"