Compiled Plans & Documents OPW18-0342 02

                                                                        Bushfire Emergency Provisions
                                    Residential Aged Care Facility – 6 Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach

required. These arrangements should be considered by the EPC as part of its planning activities, in
advance of any bushfire event. These arrangements may be applicable beyond bushfire events to
other natural hazard emergencies such as flooding, cyclone, etc.

Item 2: Bushfire Warning System
An immediate bushfire threat may be determined by the issue of an emergency warning from
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (via ABC Radio, Council’s Disaster Dashboard, or the QFES
and RFSQ websites). Text message warnings may also be issued, either on the basis of proximity to
mobile phone towers in the emergency warning area, or via pre-arranged services (i.e. relevant
staff signing up to a Council e-alert platform for severe weather warnings).

RECOMMENDATION: The chief and deputy fire wardens and all relevant EPC members should sign
up to any Council or emergency services e-alert warning platform (text message, etc.) for severe
weather warnings to ensure timely receipt of relevant warnings.

Generally, an emergency warning for evacuation will not be the first warning which is issued. There
are four types of ‘warnings’ issued for bushfire events in Queensland. These include:




Figure 7 - Types of bushfire warnings in Queensland

In addition to the above, further descriptors of bushfire behaviour are also issued as part of each
warning. These include:




Figure 8 - Descriptors of reported bushfire ignitions

RESPONSIBILITY: The chief and deputy fire wardens are required to be familiar with the nature of these
warnings, and the necessary action required in response.

Item 3: Preferred Bushfire Emergency Management Model
On the basis of the above and noting the potentially vulnerable situation of the RAC occupants, an
early evacuation model is the preferred bushfire emergency management response for the facility.
This model is based upon a trigger of fire weather (increased fire danger days of EXTREME OR
CATASTROPHIC) for action, rather than a warning.

Occupants of the facility will have a range of health conditions, including potential psychological,
cardiac or respiratory conditions which make them susceptible to the effects of smoke or stress, as
well as potential widespread mobility issues. An early evacuation model assists these potential
residents to avoid stressful emergency situations, noting that evacuation is also likely to prove
extremely stressful for some.

The need for off-site evacuation based on a trigger of fire weather on increased fire danger days is
necessary on the basis of:




Status: Provisions                                                                        December 2018
Project No.: 18-030                                                                            Page 15