The Palms Rural Fire Brigade

16/04/2026

FYI - longer term weather out look, and what it means for us all.

It is likely an El Nino will develop later this year. This means a warmer and drier than average winter, spring and early summer. Winds tend to be mostly westerlies in these events.

Drier, windier, and warmer than usual means a longer and potentially worse fire season.😐

Now is a really good time to get those stacks burnt and start planning, and preparing for, any hazard reduction burn required to lessen the risk of serious 🔥.
Things to do:
Contact local brigades and / or fire warden for advice and assistance earlier rather than later.
Clean up around your house and yards and any other structures you have. Don't forget to clean gutters regularly.
Prepare an emergency plan - just in case.
If you need to leave when a fire 🔥 does approach you - leave early.
When an emergency does occur - listen to ABC Local Radio or official websites / social media.
See the QFD page for more information.

https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/

The call button below is for The Palms Fire Warden. Always call 000 in an emergency.
Plan now and stay safe.

16/04/2026

QNPWS (Qld National Parks & Wildlife Service) are conducting a hazard reduction burn in King Conservation Park, adjacant to Briere Rd, The Palms today.

The burn is very likely to generate a fair bit of smoke.

05/04/2026

Now is the perfect time to burn most stacks of timber and consider any hazard reduction burns that may be required later in the year. Start preparing your fire breaks now so they are ready when the time comes.

Contact your local RFB or Fire Warden for advice and planning guidance, and fire permits for anything over2 meters.

Now is also a good time to prepare your emergency plan - it is too late to do that when the emergency is in your neigherhood. Check this site for further information
https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/

Plan now, stay safe.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires In December 2025, more than 50 house fires started in the kitchen or dining room. Read More Bushfire Survival Plan Make your Bushfire Survival Plan so everyone will know what to do in the event of a bushfire. Read More Plan to survive Intercon...

20/02/2026

Have you ever considered volunteering for the Rural Fire Brigade in your area? Requirements to be an active firefighter:
- over 16 (will require a blue card once over 18 - no cost for volunteers)
- reasonable health
- willing to spend time for training and then assist in activities including fires.
- working as part of a team to help protect communities.

Requirements for other jobs (no fire fighting involved unless you want to):
- over 16
- an intrest in supporting your local community.

All training and clothing etc provided.

Almost every Brigade is looking for new volunteers, and The Palms is no exception. If this is something that may interest you, or someone you know, please get in contact your local Brigade.

If you don't know contact details for local Brigade, please contact Area Office on 07 4122 0337. For The Palms area, please pm or ring the Warden phone on 0493 706 671

16/02/2026

For all permits / advice in The Palms area.
For bushfire plans, warnings and other really useful information use the web link indicated.Please note the web address is not correct, but it will get you there. The actual address is https://www.fire.qld.gov.au

15/02/2026

Well - this rain has been fantastic! And what about the relief from the heat?! At long last. And no flooding in the area.

But we all still need to remember that it will dry out again. Consequently the work of maintaining your property to keep it, and you, safe should continue.

Don't leave it until it becomes too dry to make plans and get the work done. Some local residents know only too well how fast fires can start and spread. Don't be complacent start planning now for actions to protect property.and potentially, lives.

Reach out if you would like advice. Stay safe and prepare now. PM us

12/02/2026

Reminder to all residents - not just here, but across the whole country.

For emergency situations call 000 ( triple zero, not oh, oh, oh). Do not call the local emergency services phone number. Triple zero is the go.

For emergency warnings and information, listen to local ABC radio. For this region ABC can be found on 95.3FM (Sunshine Coast), 100.1 FM or 1556 AM Wide Bay / Burnett.

08/02/2026

Local fire conditions are actually very bad - there has been a profound lack of rain since August last year; the only rain has been mostly from storms which have been quite "hit and miss". Dig into the soil a bit and you will see it is dry = zero, or very low soil moisture content. This means that all fires are easier to start and keep going, and also harder to control and extinguish. We can assure everyone everywhere that "green grass " will burn, especially if there is dead or dry fuel underneath it. And there is lots of that around.

Looking around, one can see the grass looking very withered, even brown and crispy in places. Look at the tree canopy, it is not as green as it normally is. Walk into timbered areas, hear and feel the crunch underfoot. At times, smell the eucalyptus when the leaves are crushed or stepped on.

Have you heard of the fires started by slashers or similar machinery this year? Already? In February? Well, that has happened and will happen again unless more care is taken everywhere. While the Brigade has seen total fire bans in January (unusual but not unheard of) we have never seen total fire bans in February or March. But that appears to be where we are headed.

So. Take immediate care with all fires, take extra precautions and prepare your home and property now. The warnings of current conditions are quite clear. Just bear in mind that this is supposed to be the wet season - which is then followed by the dry season.

20/12/2025

Merry Chistmas to all, we hope you have a blessed and safe Christmas.

10/12/2025

A local standby warden has been appointed for The Palms area. Please text or ring 0493 706 671 for all permits in The Palms area, but please allow a few days for contact to be returned.
Sincere apologies for any inconvenience.

02/12/2025

To all residents in The Palms area:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, all permits must be obtained via the Chief Fire Warden until further notice. Following recent changes to the Fire Warden approval process under the Act, the Fire Warden has to undergo a different approval process. We will advise as soon as the process has been completed and we have a local Fire Warden again.

In the meantime, please download the "Application for a permit form" at this web page https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/safety-education/using-fire-outdoors/lighting-fires-in-queensland

Please fill out all required fields and email it to [email protected]

We do apologise for the inconvenience, all parties concerned are working towards a resolution as fast as possible.

The first step is to check the Current Fire Bans page for any fire restrictions in place.In Queensland, the Fire Services Act 1990 is the principal legislation that deals with lighting fires in the open. The Act provides a systematic approach to the authorised use and control of fire in the open and...

24/10/2025

New Fire ban
This is in effect from 0001(midnight) tonight until 2359 (midnight) Monday 27 October.
This means no fires at all unless in a properly constructed bbq (not an incinerator - which in the the opinion of the brigade needs to be banned at all times). Even then, the bbq needs to be attended at all times and extinguished with water after cooking is completed.

See a fire? See smoke? Call 000 immediatly with a much information as possible.

Stay safe and take care with all hot work - please avoid all mowing and slashing.