Pechey bushfire reaches turning point: control lines held

MOTHER Nature backed down long enough to give exhausted firefighters a slight reprieve with control lines holding at the Pechey and Ravensbourne bushfire.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services capture scenes from the Pechey bushfire.

MOTHER Nature backed down long enough to give exhausted firefighters a slight reprieve with control lines holding at the Pechey and Ravensbourne bushfire.

But with more than 100km of fire-front across a massive 19,800 hectare burn area, authorities are reluctant to call it controlled or contained.

The damage tally has risen to six homes in a localised area near Regents Rd which Acting Inspector John Welke said saw some of the most intense and erratic fire behaviour.

 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services capture scenes from the Pechey bushfire.

 

But six homes and more sheds in the same area were able to be saved.

Concerns have now turned to the risks from above with a burnt-out tree on the Esk Hampton Rd falling on a Rural Fire Service truck about 8.30pm Wednesday.

Crews were shaken but not physically injured, Acting Inspector Welke said.

 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services capture scenes from the Pechey bushfire.

 

"We have ongoing concerns and ongoing issues for our firefighters on the fireground, particularly in the Esk Hampton Rd area for significant tree-falling activities," he said.

"Hampton Esk Rd will stay closed to all non-essential personnel for the coming days until we can have qualified hazardous tree assessors conduct assessments on that area, and remove any hazardous trees as required.

 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services capture scenes from the Pechey bushfire.

 

"This fire is far from contained but we are comfortable with the level of control."

Investigations are now under way to determine how the bushfire started, with authorities probing whether it was deliberately lit.

More than 130 firefighters remained at the face of the fire yesterday, boosting control lines with more favourable conditions forecast in coming days.

 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services capture scenes from the Pechey bushfire.

 

Warning levels in the Ravensbourne area were lowered to advice level, while assessments would be made across the weekend to determine if evacuated residents at the Churches of Christ Care Crows Nest Aged Care Service were able to return from Toowoomba.

Originally published as Pechey bushfire reaches turning point: control lines held