By DANE LILLINGSTONE
IT is the beginning of bushfire season and RACQ research has revealed that more than one-third of Queensland householders would not know what to do if their home was threatened by a bushfire.
The results were more concerning when it came to fire bans, with RACQ’s 2015 Bushfire Preparedness Index revealing that 47 per cent of Queenslanders said they had witnessed others ignoring total fire bans. An additional 8.9 per cent admitted they had ignored total fire bans themselves.
RACQ insurance communications executive manager Mike Sopinski said the results were concerning.
“It’s crucial those living in vulnerable communities have a bushfire survival plan in place so they know how to protect themselves and safeguard their property in case of a bushfire,” he said.
“Residents should set out precisely how they and their family will respond to a bushfire emergency.”
Mr Sopinski said that preparing your home for bushfire threats was extremely important with results revealing that 32 per cent of householders were not clearing gutters and 27 per cent were not trimming tree branches and foliage.
“Flying embers are a major cause of homes catching fire in bushfires and with little or no rain, leaves and other materials built up in gutters become very dry and brittle, and act as readily ignitable fuel for embers,” he said.
The research also revealed that 42 per cent of householders believed current weather conditions had created a larger risk to their homes.
“This finding is not surprising given approximately 80 per cent of Queensland is currently in drought and the strengthening El Nino effect is raising the prospects of above average bushfire risks,” he said.
For more information visit www.getready.qld.gov.au
The RACQ Get Ready campaign has a list of what Queenslanders should be doing to prepare their property for the threat of bushfires.
* Prepare a bushfire survival plan.
* Mow the grass regularly.
* Remove dry grass, dead leaves and branches from yards.
* Move any flammable items such as wood piles away from the house.
* Trim low-lying branches.
* Keep gutters clear of leaf litter.
* Know the fire risk in your local area.
* Check and adhere to local fire restrictions.
