Community members are advised to keep an eye on the current fire situation as emergency management groups work together to ensure the safety of the community.
The District Disaster Management Group met with the Local Disaster Management Group on Wednesday morning to discuss the fire situation at Kinkuna and Goodwood.
The Local Disaster Management Group moved to Stand Up on Tuesday after a fire impacted the communities in the Kinkuna and Goodwood area.
Bundaberg Local Disaster Group Management Chair Mayor Jack Dempsey said the fire season had already taken a toll on the hardworking volunteers and firefighters in the region.
“There is a total fire ban in place for the whole of our region,” he said.
“We live in a very caring and resilient community.
“Currently the Local Disaster Management Group and the District Disaster Management Group are both at Stand Up.
“There has been an outstanding effort by our Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and our hard-working volunteers.
“If you see them out and about, give them a shout as they are doing a great job to protect people’s lives and property.
“Yesterday we had the full force of Mother Nature on us with heat and wind and the way our volunteers and emergency services responded was quite outstanding.
“They went above and beyond what they normally do in a fire season, and we are still not out of it and that is why we will continue to remain at Stand Up.”
Mayor Dempsey said a Place of Refuge was set up at Isis Cultural Centre in Childers for anyone needing a place to stay while displaced from the fire.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Bundaberg Command Inspector Trevor Duncan said although conditions had improved compared to yesterday there was still the need to remain vigilant as the weather changes.
Inspector Duncan said both firefighting ground crews and firebombing aircraft were working to prevent the containment lines from moving.
“We have a number of crews concentrating on the south-east end of the fire at Goodwood,” he said.
“So, we're talking about along Woodgate Road. We're concentrating on that angle there at the moment, with crews and also water bombing. We'll be assisting the ground crews with that.”
He said it was important for community members to follow the current fire warnings and no one should be lighting fires in the current situation.
“We need not to have fires while we’ve got fire bans or when conditions like this are critical,” he said.
“In times when it is dry and we don't have fire bans in place, you must get your permit (it) costs nothing, get your permit issued, abide by the conditions on that permit, always stay in attendance and always have the necessary firefighting equipment on hand.
“However, where we are at now, nobody should be lighting fires at all for any reason.”
Emergency relief
Residents impacted or displaced by the current Kinkuna and Goodwood fire situation are reminded of the emergency relief available through the Childers Neighbourhood Centre.
Support is available throughout the year through the emergency relief program for items such as food, utilities, prescriptions and referrals for clothing, bedding, and other household items.
Anyone who wants to know more about the emergency relief program or available support should contact the Childers Neighbourhood Centre on 4130 4690 or pop into the centre at 69 Churchill Street.
Fire ban update
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has extended a local fire ban for North Coast Region residents. The local fire ban will be in place until 11.59 pm on Monday 6 November 2023.
The local fire ban also includes residents in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Local Government Areas, along with the Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett, South Burnett and Cherbourg Local Government Areas.
- Current bushfire warnings and incidents can be found here
