Queenslanders urged to take three steps to stay bushfire safe

With Queensland facing heightened bushfire risk as it enters the warmer months, the state’s bushfire safety campaign has been refreshed to help keep Queenslanders safe.

The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) has worked with Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s Get Ready Queensland program to encourage early preparedness and practical action during the state's high risk bushfire period.

Drawing on hard lessons from recent years, the updated campaign provides examples of how every Queenslander, regardless of where they live, can prepare for bushfires.

QFD’s 2026 campaign calls on Queenslanders to take three simple steps now to mitigate the threat of bushfires: know your risk, have a Bushfire Survival Plan in place, and get your property bushfire ready.

Knowing your risk involves understanding your surrounds, where nearby bushland is situated, and how quickly fire could move through an area.

A Bushfire Survival Plan helps families decide whether to leave early or stay and defend, and removes panic from the equation when it matters most.

Residents can get their property bushfire ready by clearing gutters, mowing grass, moving flammable material away from the house, and maintaining defendable space around buildings.

Over the past decade Queensland's heightened bushfire risk period has grown more intense and unpredictable. 

Heading into the 2026-27 disaster season, forecasters have flagged elevated risk across central and southern Queensland, with hot, dry and windy conditions expected to drive dangerous fire days through late-2026 and into the new year. 

Actions Queenslanders can take now to prepare for bushfires include:

• Reduce bushfire fuel around a property by keeping grass and leaf litter to a minimum. 
• Clean out gutters to remove any twigs and debris.
• Mow the lawn regularly and trim low-lying branches around the home.
• Check and maintain fire pumps and water systems.
• Review your Bushfire Survival Plan and create a contingency plan for unexpected events.
• Conduct hazard reduction burns (a permit is required to ensure burns are conducted safely).
• Discuss prevention strategies with nearby neighbours to prevent fires from spreading.
• Ensure your property number is easy to identify in case QFD crews are required in an emergency.
• Keep up to date with your local council Disaster Management Dashboard and warnings on the Queensland Fire Department website.