Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade

03/06/2026

🔥 Hazard Reduction Burns #4 & #5 Update 🔥

Hazard Reduction Burn #4 was underway, however we made the decision to pause operations due to a change in wind direction that had the potential to impact nearby residents with smoke.

The safety and wellbeing of our community is always our highest priority. When conducting hazard reduction burns, we carefully monitor weather conditions and use them to our advantage to minimise smoke impacts wherever possible. If conditions become less than ideal, we won't hesitate to stop and wait for a better opportunity. Taking the time to do the job right helps us protect both our community and our firefighters.

Hazard Reduction Burn #5 at Merinda was a great success. Crews were able to significantly reduce the fuel load across the area, achieving an estimated 70–80% fuel reduction. This work helps lower the risk and intensity of future bushfires and improves the safety of our local community.

A big thank you to all members involved in these burns and to residents for their understanding and support while this important mitigation work is carried out. 👨‍🚒🚒

01/06/2026

🔥 Hazard Reduction Burns – Bowen & Merinda Today 🔥
Bowen, we're conducting a couple more hazard reduction burns this afternoon!
📍 Eyles Street – Whitsunday Breeze We will be conducting a timber stack burn on behalf of a resident from 3:00pm.
📍 Linley Street – Merinda We'll be reducing the fuel hazard around our station and the area opposite the Merinda Village Hotel from 5:00pm.
🍻 Got to keep the pub safe! 😜
With the current weather forecast, smoke is not expected to impact residents at this stage 🤞. However, conditions can change, and some smoke will still be visible in the area.
As always, please take care around crews and appliances operating in these locations.

26/05/2026

And just like that, Hazard Reduction Burn #3 is complete! 🔥🚒
Today we loaded up all of the trucks and headed up the highway to assist our good friends at Heronvale RFB out at Brisk Bay. We worked alongside Heronvale, the Department of Environment, and some colleagues who made the trip up from Mackay to run a workshop.
The last two days have delivered absolutely perfect weather conditions for hazard reductions and today was no different.
Not too many photos from today, but we did manage to snap one of the big fella right in his element! 👨‍🚒🔥
A big thanks to everyone involved for another safe and successful burn.

25/05/2026

Hazard Reduction Burns 1 & 2 for the year complete ✅🔥
Today we assisted the Department of Environment on behalf of MSQ with hazard reduction burns along Henning Darwin Drive. The burn went exactly to plan and was a great success.
Please note the stockpile stacks that were burnt will continue to smoulder for the next couple of days. These are completely safe and will not cause any further fire risk.
After wrapping up there, crews returned to our patch at Merinda where we conducted another burn as part of the Burning for Outcomes workshops. Participants were shown different burn patterns along with ways water can be used to assist in safely controlling burns on their properties.
All in all, a big day for the crew — and we’re ready to go again tomorrow assisting DERM with another hazard reduction burn at Brisk Bay 🔥🚒

22/05/2026

🔥 Planned Hazard Reduction Burns – Bowen Area 🔥
Whitsunday Regional Council wishes to advise residents that planned hazard reduction and green waste burns will be undertaken across the Bowen area from Monday 25 May to Thursday 28 May 2026, weather permitting.

📍 Current burn schedule:
• Monday 25 May – Henry Darwen Reserve | 10am–2pm
• Tuesday 26 May – Brisk Bay / Heronvale area
• Wednesday 27 May – Morrill Street, Bowen
• Thursday 28 May – Possible green waste pile burns at Dennison Park, Peter Whyke Drive

These burns are part of ongoing fuel reduction activities to help manage vegetation and reduce bushfire risk ahead of the dry season.
Please be aware:
• Smoke may impact washing left outdoors
• Residents may wish to close windows and doors
• Motorists should drive to conditions if visibility is reduced

Council thanks the community for its patience and understanding while these important mitigation works are carried out. For more information on bushfire management visit Council's website.

17/05/2026

This week is National Volunteer Week and we want to take a moment to recognise the incredible men and women who make up the crew at Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade 🚒

Our volunteers give up their time away from family, work and personal commitments to protect our community. From fighting fires and attending incidents, to training nights, maintenance, fundraising and community events — our brigade simply would not exist without the dedication of our volunteer firefighters.
Whether it’s the middle of the day, late at night or during severe weather, our crew always answers the call.

To every one of our volunteers — thank you for your commitment, teamwork, sacrifice and community spirit. We are incredibly proud to stand beside you.

We would also like to thank the families, employers and supporters behind the scenes who help make volunteering possible.

Happy National Volunteer Week and thank you to all volunteers across Australia!

28/04/2026

🔥 Sponsor Shout Out 🔥
A massive thank you to Fud's Concreting for their incredible support of the Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade! 👏

Fud and his crew went above and beyond for our brigade, generously donating their time and hard work to help pour our new concrete training & washdown pad. This is a huge addition for us and will make a big difference in how we train and maintain our gear.

Support like this from local legends doesn’t go unnoticed – we truly appreciate everything you’ve done for our crew and the community. 🍻

If you’re looking for top-quality concreting work, make sure you get around Fuds Concreting and support those who support your local volunteers!

24/04/2026

Lest We Forget 🌺

Today we pause to honour and remember the courage, sacrifice, and mateship of all those who have served and continue to serve our country.

On this ANZAC Day, the members of Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade stand in reflection and gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy today because of their service.

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

21/04/2026

Come down tomorrow from 5pm and check out what community spirit is and what we do! Everyone is welcome!

This Wednesday from 5pm at out station at Merinda. All welcome to attend.

19/04/2026

Sponsor Shout Out 🍻🔥

Alright… this one’s for the real MVPs — the crew at the Merinda Village Hotel!

James and his team have been backing us for years — hosting our AGM’s, putting up with our monthly meetings, and most importantly… feeding a pack of dusty, smoke-covered, starving firies after a big job. And somehow, a few of those feeds have magically cost us $0… we’re still not asking questions 😜

Let’s be honest — the Merinda Village Hotel isn’t just a sponsor, it’s basically our unofficial station extension at this point. Tones drop 🚨, job gets done ✅… and somehow the trucks nearly steer themselves there after pack-up 🍻

If you can’t find the crew after a call out, there’s a very good chance we’re there conducting some very serious “incident debriefing” (and by that we mean a cold one and a feed).

Massive thanks to James and the team for always looking after us — we really appreciate the support you give our volunteers.
Get down there, support those who support us… just don’t take our table 😉