Feb2015_the DDRFB Chatter
Dayboro & District Rural Fire Brigade
Welcome to 2015. We hope you all had a well-earned rest and wish you all a happy and safe new year. Our New Year’s resolution is to ensure all residents understand the importance of keeping their yellow post highly visible. Achievable?
A massive Congratulations to Lee Tapper for being recipient of the Queensland (yep the whole state) Volunteer of the Year. See the separate article by Chairman Glenn Bell.
Don’t wait until it’s too late – get ready now!
Not only do we want you to be ready but we also want you to know your responsibilities as breaches can result in penalties and/or prosecution. Remember….
YOUR FIRE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Anyone found responsible for lighting fires without a permit where one was required, can be prosecuted. Prosecution can also occur if a person is found responsible for lighting a fire that breaches local law or the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
An application for a ‘Permit to Light Fire’ is made through your local Fire Warden. Following receipt of your Application, the Fire Warden may impose conditions on a Permit to reduce unwanted risk or nuisance to other people, property, or to the environment. The Fire Warden may refuse to issue a Permit if they believe that appropriate safety measures cannot be reasonably achieved, or that neighbouring owners/occupiers have not been given enough time to raise any concerns about the intended fire.
Fires that are exempt from requiring a Permit to Light Fire are:
• Fires that are less than 2 metres in any direction.
Note: These fires are not exempt during a declared Fire Danger Period and at those times a Permit must be obtained from a Fire Warden.
• Fires lit outdoors in a properly prepared fireplace for the purpose of cooking (e.g. BBQ and camp fires). In this instance it is the responsibility of the person lighting or maintaining the fire to ensure adequate precautions are taken to prevent the spread of fire.
• Certain fires used by primary producers and for industrial purposes.
Penalties for breaches of the Act are increased during a ‘Local Fire Ban’ and during a ‘State of Fire Emergency’
VIP – Glenn Bell
(Volunteer Info Profile)
I joined DDRFB on 10 October 2001 and became Chairman in September 2002 after local legend, Bill Rowe, stood down from that position after 42 years.
Earlier that year, there was a large bushfire headed towards Dayboro from the Shea Road area and, as I was an urban firefighter, I went to see if I could be of assistance. I was surprised how well I was received by the local lads, but one guy in particular kept nagging me about coming along to a Rural Fire Brigade meeting one night. Eventually I caved in and that guy (Mr Alwyn Weston) became one of my best mates.
Lexie and I have lived in Dayboro since June 1999 (nearly 16 years). As a kid, I used to often stay with Viv and Stan Sellin on their farm at Mt Pleasant when my Mum went into hospital. I attended Mt Pleasant State School. Fell in love with Dayboro and have always wanted to live here permanently.
We try hard not to admit it, but Lexie and I were both ‘southsiders’ originally – we moved to Dayboro after 22 years at Bray Park, where we raised our two daughters, Sharryn and Andrea.
I enlisted in the RAAF at 19 for 6 years and joined the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Brisbane on QLD Day 1978 (06 June). I have been a rural firefighter for 13 years and an urban firefighter for 36 years.
My favourite toy is our 1965 Mustang Fastback and I also collect 45rpm records, but spending time with my rural firefighter mates takes some beating.
the Wardens’ Word
***ALL FIRES-ongoing request***
The wardens for the areas below are requesting a courtesy call before lighting ANY fire please. Even fires below the 2x2m permit requirements. This is ‘not’ mandatory just a safety precaution. With conditions as they are, any smoke noticed is inspected. So a quick call will save valuable time. Thanks for your co-operation!
IF WE ALL DO A LITTLE, WE’LL ACCOMPLISH A LOT
…DIDYANO?…
National Red Balloon Day is on 28 February.
Show your appreciation to all of Australia’s Fire Fighters by flying a red Thank You Fireys balloon from your home or place of business on 28th February 2015.
All merchandise can be purchased from www.nationalredballoonday.org
Don’t forget to check our Facebook page for more up to date information on events and workshops, safety tips, cool stuff (& the hot stuff), hazard reduction burns, & photos.
ALWAYS PHONE ‘000’ TO REPORT EMERGENCIES
DON’T LEARN FIRE SAFETY BY ACCIDENT
