Herald 20220906

Rural fire services adopt simplified rating system
Rural fire services across the country
have adopted a new system to identify
fire conditions to help them and the public
prepare.
The new Australian Fire Danger Rating
System that was implemented on
Thursday was the result of collaboration
between state emergency services agencies
and the Commonwealth government.
Rural Fire Service South West Region
bushfire mitigation manager Steele Davies
said the new system was a simplification
of the previous one.
“It’s a new system that is simplifying
what the old system was.
During Black Saturday bushfires in
Fire season
preparations
After several prominent rain
events this year, the Rural Fire
Service is urging landholders
not to become complacent as
we move into spring.
Since November, 2021, there
have been seven flood events,
bringing a large amount of rain
to the Toowoomba Region.
Rural Fire Service South
West Region bushfire mitigation
manager Steele Davies,
pictured above, said it was
important for property owners
to keep up to date with preparations
for fire season.
“With the amount of rain
over the last two years, there
is a lot of grass growth which
has been cured off with recent
frost,” he said.
“At a burn a fortnight ago,
we were looking at fire running
across atop of the grass which
was underlying with water.
A CONSISTENT APPROACH AUSTRALIA-WIDE
2009, there were changes to the rating
system to increase it to catastrophic and
each state has a different way on how they
presented the fire condition,” he said.
“All of the states and territories have
worked together for four years to come
up with a consistent approach.
Regardless whether you are at Port Arthur
or Port Douglas, or Broome to Bega,
everything will be the same.”
Changes to the system have reduced
the classifications to four which are:
moderate, high, extreme and catastrophic,
with an off function to indicate no fire
danger.
“We’ve got people doing a range of
“Just because it’s wet underfoot,
doesn’t mean fire can’t go
across - something important
for people to keep in mind.
“People need to be wary that
fire doesn’t start when they’re
using cutting tools, welding
equipment or slashing their
property.”
In the lead up to the warmer
months, Mr Davies is calling
for landowners to begin their
preparations in regards to fire
plans.
“We’ve already seen a lot of
vegetation growth and we’re
expecting a lot more coming
into spring,” he said.
“It’s the opportune time to
have a discussion with the local
brigade or fire warden if you’re
interested in planned burning
to get rid of unwanted vegetation.
Now is the time to do it.”
- Sean White
works within a number of different industries
where the fire danger rating can have
an effect so it’s just simplifying the system
so people can either look it up online
or see a road sign to find their local fire
danger rating,” Mr Davies said.
“The technology that drove the old
system was based on two types of vegetation:
forests and grass. This one takes
in eight different types ranging from
spinifex (out on the edge of desert and in
the desert), grassland, forests, pine, hinterland
and taking in consideration with
tropical landscapes for stakeholders up
north and more.”
There will be other components of the
new system with a fire danger viewer
and a fire behaviour index that will be
accessible for local services to utilise in
decision making during a fire seasons and
events.
All the signs of the former system will
be updated to the Australia Fire Danger
Rating System with the Highfields sign
out the front of the Highfields Fire Station
to be placed on the New England
Highway.
“The fire danger rating system will
provide another avenue for the public
to be aware of what their triggers are to
help them prepare their bush fire survival
plan,” Mr Davies said. - Sean White
Steele Davies - Rural Fire
Service
Quilters raise funds for Emerge Youth Services
At the launch of the Toowoomba
Quilters Club’s annual charity
art union, members heard about
Emerge Youth Services from the
organisation’s passionate CEO
and founder, Jen Shaw.
Emerge was founded in 2017
to provide on-the-job training,
mentoring and practical life
skills for disengaged and at risk
youth.
Emerge Youth Services will
be the beneficiary of proceeds
from the club’s 2022 art union.
Penny Hamilton, chair of
Emerge board of directors also
spoke about her role with the
Emerge organisation.
Jen and Penny have inspired
members to start selling tickets
in the quilt art union where the
prize is a beautiful queen bed
quilt valued at approximately
$3000.
Members who sell a book of
tickets go into the draw for a
bookseller’s prize.
Tickets will be available at our
Quilt Exhibition from Septem-
Toowoomba Quilters Club exhibition convener Janice Becker, Emerge board chair Penny
Hamilton, Emerge CEO Jen Shaw, and TQ member and
maker of the art union quilt Ferne Callow.
ber 17 to 23 at a new venue, the
Toowoomba Community Baptist
Church, 100 Glenvale Road.
For more exhibition details,
search www.facebook.com/TQ-
ClubInc or phone the convener
Janice Becker 0409 634 272. We
look forward to welcoming you
at TCBC.
50% of available lots now secured!
Secure your dream lot.
Expressions
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now being taken.
First release lot range - 650m 2 to 1178m 2
Ph 0455 512 666 | wirraglen.com.au
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au
HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 - 11