QUEENSLAND's heavy wet season provided a lucky opportunity for the state to trial its problematic emergency alert system, the chief of Rural Fire Brigades Association said.
The first trials in Esk failed just before Christmas when the Telstra software, which was used throughout Australia, was unable to connect to local phone numbers.
But an Emergency Services Queensland spokesman said a second round of tests - in some cases to 1000 telephone numbers, both landlines and mobile phones - appeared to have remedied the fault.
While the new testing had been positive, there had been no decision to 'go live' with the emergency alert system, which tackles bushfires, flash flooding and storm surges.
Dick Irwin, CEO of the Rural Fire Brigades Association, said he was happy there was a wet season for more testing, but the scheme needed to be fully operational by July.
"The introduction time is probably quite good because we have just started our normal wet season," Mr Irwin said.
"And there would be reasonable time for any additional testing that needs to happen."
But Mr Irwin said problems with the early warning system still needed to be ironed out.
"There is going to be a problem with coverage with mobile phones and they are still to fix up some areas in how they are going to notify some people," he said.
"When the phone is registered in an area and that person is in South Australia, it is still going to call them and it may put them under a lot of stress."
Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser yesterday said final testing was still underway.
"The Emergency Alert System is currently undergoing comprehensive testing to ensure that it is functional and reliable before 'going live' to Queensland communities," he said.
"I am advised that initial issues experienced by Telstra in the December trial at Esk are now being addressed."
Mr Irwin said unlike southern states - where the bushfire season was during their dry summer months, Queensland's bushfire season ran from August to November.
"We are really fortunate because our hot season is our wet season, whereas in other states their hot season is their dry season which is why it becomes really difficult for them as far as fires are concerned," he said.
Mr Irwin said the main emphasis needed to be on reducing fuel loads, rather than for householders relying on landline and mobile phone warnings.
"That is one thing that we can control over fire," he said.
"We can't control the weather, but we can control the amount of fuel on the ground. That is what creates a firestorm, the amount of fuel on the ground."
Queensland also had a system of fire permits which allowed vegetation to be burned, unless fire bans were in place.
Fire bans across much of the state were lifted just before Christmas.
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