LAST year, it was Exercise Orko, designed to help emergency crews manage a flood crisis; yesterday it was bushfires.

Local police, Queensland Fire and Rescue, council and representatives from organisations such as Red Cross met for Operation Phoenix – a program designed to help people deal with a bushfire.

Emergency Management Queensland’s Chris Artiemiew led the meeting, and put forward a mock situation to help talk through the order of response people involved would complete.

“It’s to prepare the Disaster Management Group for the scenario,” he said.

“In doing that, each group knows their role and how they can assist the community in a major event like fire.”

South-West Region regional manager, Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl, helped guide the group through what steps would be taken if such an event were to take place.

The Disaster Management Group completed a similar project before the floods, which Mr Artiemiew said greatly helped each person’s confidence when managing the crisis.

“It certainly helped the local government try to prepare for a flood,” he said.

“We probably got some remarks we were fitting in too much and that it was a bit over the top.

“But a lot of things actually came true. You just don’t know what will happen, but at least everyone is prepared for the worst.”

This fire season, land owners are preparing for the worst as fire and rescue personnel warn of high fire dangers.