Community Spirit Shines Through

Areas of Caloundra breathed a sigh of relief after last weekend’s major fire event was brought under control.

Our thanks go out to the firefighters, emergency services staff and the many volunteers who worked so tirelessly to keep people and property safe.

One thing that makes us very proud of being part of the Caloundra community is the way people rally around each other when the situation demands.

There were plenty of positive stories coming out of the weekend, from volunteers delivering coffee to exhausted firefighters to people taking care of their friends and neighbours, and providing food and water for those displaced from their homes.

Prolonged dry conditions and hot blustery winds created the perfect conditions for the fire to take hold. It burnt through approximately 700 hectares of grass and bushland at Caloundra South creating smoke hazards and resulting in a number of community warnings being issued.

In all, more than 500 Fire and Rescue, Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service personnel responded to the situation. In the three days spent fighting the blaze, 182 fire trucks were deployed. It was an incredible team effort.

With firefighters warning that this year’s bushfire season could extend well into the New Year, residents are being urged to remain vigilant about potential risks.

If you haven’t done so already, a great resource to familiarise yourself with is the Rural Fire Service website https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx, containing essential information on completing a survival plan and how to best prepare for the bushfire season.