NEWS

ARE YOU CYCLONE PREPARED?

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:27:00 -0500

In March 2009, Toogoo braced itself for the onslaught of TC Hamish. Although it turned out to be a bit of a non event, it was a timely reminder that cyclones can be a real threat in the area.

As Toogoom doesn't have a State Emergency Services Unit, The Toogoom Rural Fire Brigade is usually responded to assist during times of flood and cyclone in the local area. The operative word is 'assist' , It is up to local residents to ensure they are well prepared in the event of a cyclone. Due to the low lying nature of Toogoom we can be cut off from neighbouring areas even during minor flooding, so here are some tips from the SES website:

PREPARE YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

PREPARE YOUR EMERGENCY KIT

PREPARE YOUR HOME

PREPARE TO EVACUATE

The links above are a wealth of knowledge and even have printable information that you can store in a safe place so you can refer to it should the need arise. Now is the time to get yourself prepared. If you have any questions about what you need to do, please call 132500 and someone from the SES will be able to assist.

WET WEATHER BRINGS RELEIF

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:17:00 -0500

The recent wet weather has brought some relief to local fire crews and your brigade. With fire bans recently being lifted we can now enjoy backyard BBQ's again. But we need to remember that the usual Fire Permit system is now back in place. If you are planning to light a fire, for whatever reason, you need to keep a few things in mind.

Is you planned fire over 2 meters in ANY direction? You will need a permit.
Do you have the correct equipment to safely contain and control the fire?
Are you the property owner, or do you have permission from the property owner? (Hence no fires on the beach.)
Do you really need to light the fire?
Are you contravening any local council laws? (ie no fires in residential zoned properties except for cooking)

Taking a little time to think before you light will prevent unnessesary call outs by the brigade, fines, or inconvenience to neighbours. If unsure, please feel free to call the Fire Warden on 4128 0039 or the First Officer on 4128 0841.

FIRE CREWS STILL BUSY!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:42:00 -0400

Crews from Toogoom have been very busy locally and also in other areas as some members have been sent to other areas as parts of strike teams to Rockhampton, Gin Gin, Kilkivan, and Gayndah, as thier local crews are exhausted. Crews from New South Wales have also been sent up to assist.

We are urging all community members to be vigilant in the Toogoom area about thier own safety and to dial triple zero "000" to reprt fires and not the brigade. If local residents want to know how to become bush fire prepared they can log on to www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au and find out all the information they need to help protect themselves when a fire threatens to impact thier house. Preparation is the key to minimising the impact of a wildfire and the time to prepare is now! Dont leave it until it is too late.

BUSY MONTH FOR BRIGADE

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:48:00 -0400

Toogoom Rural Fire Brigade has been extremely busy over the last month with wildfires locally and in nieghbouring areas. A majority of these fires have been deliberately lit or lit by careless occupiers.

Fire fighters have fought fires at Old Toogoom Road, two at Churchill Mines Road, two at Maryborough West, and a number of smaller fires around the area.

A number of members have also been placed on stand by to crew strike teams that can be put in areas that require extra manpower. One member has already been a part of a strike team in Gayndah, Others are still on standby for insertion into Gympie, Kingaroy, or Bundaberg, if required.

Local residents need to be aware that, despite the shower of rain yesterday, we are still on an extreme fire danger level with a total fire ban in place until midnight Monday the 5th of October, and that basically anyone caught lighting a fire in the open can and will be fined or charged. QFRS are taking this current weather situation seriously and are showing a zero tolerance to people flouting the law.

The faster crews can respond to an incident, the greater chance they have of bringing a fire under control quickly and with out threatening homes or vital infrastructure. Everyone is encouraged to call triple Zero "000" to report ANY fire the see.

KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY DAY

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:24:00 -0400

On Saturday October 24th, Between 9am and 2pm, the Toogoom Community Hall is hosting a "Get to know your community day. Groups from all around the town will be at the hall to showcase thier interests. The Toogoom Fishing Club, the RSL, and Project Linus to name a few.

The Toogoom Rural Fire Brigade will be there as well, with events on show for the whole family. Our most popular member, Blazer, will make an appearance, along with live fire demonstrations, fire extinguisher and fire blanket demos, information on how to join, and displays of some of the equipment we use.

So no matter what your interest, wether is is to join, learn to protect your home, or just get a photo with Blazer....we'll show you how to get involved in the Hottest Game this summer!

EXTREME FIRE DANGER

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:36:00 -0400

Toogoom Fire District is currently under a Very High Fire Danger, but that will be upgraded on monday to an Extreme Fire Danger by monday morning. Toogoom Rural Fire Brigade is on a "Level Two" response alert during this period.

What does this mean to you?

NO FIRES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - HEAVY PENALTIES AND POSSIBLE JAIL TERMS CAN APPLY IF CAUGHT LIGHTING FIRES DURING THESE PERIODS.
ENSURE YOU ARE "PREPARED TO DEFEND OR GO EARLY" IF WILDFIRE DOES THREATEN THE AREA (FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.RURALFIRE.QLD.GOV.AU
CURRENT FIRE PERMITS ARE BEING RECONSIDERED AND NO NEW ONES WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL THIS WEATHER SUBSIDES
REMEMBER....CALL 000 TO REPORT A FIRE

FERAL FIRE BUGS

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:10:00 -0400

Late this afternoon Toogoom 41 & 51 were responded to yet another fire on the beach. Called in by a local resident, it what could be only described as a callous disregard for the environment and also for the safety of residents. It is alledged that a group of people had been drinking and set a fire on the beach. Apart from the disgusting mess that the feral partygoes left behind on our pristine beach, the fire's position was that close to the vegetation on the foreshore that embers could have escaped, leading to a wildfire which would be difficult to control, and potentially destroy a number of houses in the vicintity.

The photo above is after some local residents extinguished the fire so that it was safe, and had also carted away nearly a wheelie bin load of broken glass and bottles. "The residents involved should be commended for thier civic mindedness and concern for the safety of local residents." 1st Officer Matt Murphy reported "All that was left when we arrived was to pull the remnants of the fire apart and cool it down to make if safe."

As a reminder, if you see anyone on the beach starting or maintaining a campfire, please call 000 immediately as it is the quickest way to get a unit to the scene. Apart from fires not being allowed, AT ALL, on the beach or foreshore area, it also poses a risk to property owners in the area as we have no access in a number of stretches along the foreshore to effectively control a fire. The potential for houses to be lost is quite significant.

AGM & GENERAL MEETING REMINDER

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:39:00 -0400

Due to a burn being conducted on Tuesday the 11th of August, Our General Meeting will be held on Wednesday the 12th.

No changes to the AGM Date. This is still being held on Tuesday the 25th of August

All residents are encouraged to attend.

BRIGADE CONSULTED IN TRAFFIC CALMING

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:48:00 -0400

On Wednesday the 5th of August, Toogoom Rural Fire Brigade hosted a community meeting between local residents of Shellcott Street and the Capital Works Department of Fraser Coast Regional Council. The issue was in regards to the massive increse of traffic in the street since it was opened as a throughway between Jeppesen Road and O'Regans Creek Road as part of the development of the 12 Mile Beach Estate. Also the speeds that vehicles travell through Shellcott Street was raised.

A number of options were discussed, including closing the street at one end or the middle, speed humps, chicanes, and making it a one way street. Other issues like sealing the road from kerb to kerb and the removal of the center mounted street lights were also raised.

Issues that needed to be considered were traffic calming device types, acess to existing properties, and the ability for the fire brigade to exit the street during a response. The talk was 'spirited' to say the least, as one would expect when a council meets with concerned residents, but realistic outcomes were presented.

Traffic calming devices called "single lane crossovers" will be implemented (see picture above, this is only an example of the concept and the ones to be installed will be larger and face the opposite way). These effectively block the left side of the road and a driver has to "crossover" to the right, travel through a single lane diagonal chicane and ends up on the left (right) side of the road. Vehicles are effectively slowed down and oncoming traffic has to give way to the vehicle already on the crossover. One of these has been installed at Samurai Drive, Kuwunagn, with great sucess at slowing traffic and reducing the number of cars, without hindering emergency services or service vehicles.

The first of these will be installed in front of the shellcott street park near the fire brigade. This was seen to be a logical spot, as during a response, the appliances have only just left the station and are only travelling at low speed. This also allows the fire brigade to use the hydrant opposite the station as a fill point again due to the extra room on the road side the crossover will allow.

Two more are expected to be installed in shellcott street although thier position is being studied at the moment due to acess issues.

Also, the center lights/traffic calming that is already installed will be removed and sealing of the road from kerb to kerb will be completed. The works are expected to be started in 8-12 weeks.

SHELLCOTT STREET PARK LOOKING GOOD!

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:36:00 -0400

Earlier we posted news that the barbecue in the Shellcott Street Park next to the fire brigade was being replaced by council. The BBQ has been installed and is ready for those summer picnics in the park. Many thanks to Fraser Coast Regional Council Parks Department!

The gardens are also getting a spruce up with 20 cubic meters of mulch being delivered courtesy of Fraser Coast Regional Council Capital Works Department. Members of the brigade worked tirelessley on Friday to spread the mulch around, giving the park and the brigade gardens a much fresher look. More plants will be put in over the coming weeks to replace those that have died or been damaged by vandals. (little sods)

Parks department have also arranged for a delivery of decompressed granite to top up the pathway that leads through the park to the beach. We will also be using it to prepare an access for service vehicles and also to tidy the ground up around the picnic tables where grass has a tough time growing because of the shade.

We encourage all residents and visitors to use the park as much as possible, as the more it gets used, the more facilities and upgrades will be considered.