QUEENSLAND Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has imposed a local fire ban for Far North Queensland residents.
Current fire conditions are perfect for bushfires to ignite and spread quickly.
Under a local fire ban all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been cancelled.
The local fire ban has be in place from the early hours of this morning (Thursday) for residents in the Aurukun, Cairns, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Torres, Torres Strait, Weipa, Wujal Wujal, Yarrabah, Cassowary Coast, Mareeba, Tabelands, Croydon and Etheridge Local Government Areas.
Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however QFES encourages people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start.
This may include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.
The ban is expected to remain in place until 2359hrs on Monday 23 October.
Information on fire bans and the exemptions that can apply can be found on the QFES website.
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