Fire alert: Queensland Fire Department issues warning for tiny Far North Qld town of Forsayth
A fire in Far North Queensland has burned 56,000 hectares and threatened Forsayth. The blaze, which was burning on two fronts, has since been downgraded to a ‘Stay informed’ notice. One home has been lost in the fire.
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A fire burning in Far North Queensland, which has scorched 56,000 hectares so far, has been downgraded to a ‘Stay informed’ notice as of Tuesday morning.
The blaze, which started on Monday, November 11 had been threatening the town of Forsayth, located southwest of Cairns.
Queensland Fire Department (QFD) confirmed the fire’s spread had slowed, thanks to water bombing efforts, on-ground firefighting teams, and the successful strengthening of fire breaks.
“It’s still important to stay informed and be prepared to leave, if needed,” QFD spokeswoman said.
“The warning area remains between Forsayth Airport and Stockman Creek Road, including Forsayth township, Einasleigh Road and Curralle Station”
”Major roads or highways may be impacted, including Einasleigh Road.”
The Mayor of the Etheridge Shire Council based in Georgetown south-west of Cairns confirmed on Monday a home had been lost in the major blaze burning on two fronts.
Mayor Barry Hughes said crews from multiple government organisations were on the ground fighting the bushfire that had burned a wide swath about 70-kilometres long in “challenging conditions” since Wednesday night.
He said current resources included Queensland Fire Department, Rural Fire Brigade, Queensland Parks and Wildlife, “as well as aerial backup in regards trying to keep the fire away from the township of Forsayth”, a town of up to 80 people.
“One of our problems is that is has breached the Einasleigh-Forsayth main road, so it’s burning on two fronts, one on the southern side of the highway and the other one is travelling in a northerly direction towards the Gulf Developmental Road coming out of the Newcastle Range,” he said.
“It’s one big fire but there are two major fronts.”
Mr Hughes said the residents of Forsayth were remaining in place “at this time”.
“We’ve had Queensland Police Service operating in close conjunction with all our agencies making sure everybody’s aware of their roles and responsibilities in relation to the fire and we’ve had personnel on the ground protecting cattle-station infrastructure, the properties, the homesteads,” he said.
“We are ensuring the people are safe but the aerial backup is the main course of action at the moment.”
Mr Hughes said the aerial force included fixed-wing and rotary “aerial bombers”, saying a Black Hawk helicopter with a bucket being filled at Charleston Dam near Forsyth was helping efforts.
He said QFD firefighters from Townsville had joined the fight on Monday morning.
“We had relief assistance come in from Townsville this morning in the shape of red fire trucks and fresh personnel who have re-energised the ground assault on the fire front as well.”
Mr Hughes confirmed the fire had traversed 70 kilometres since it was sparked on Wednesday night when it claimed a homestead in Einasleigh.
“Heavy fuel loads have hindered all the work that has been going on to try and contain the fire and the terrain is very rough … being part of the Newcastle Range System,” he said.
“Everyone’s been on the front foot and very proactive around making sure that cattle property infrastructure, homesteads, sheds etc, are being kept safe.”
He said a huge area of grazing pasture had been destroyed, which would mean the need for outside assistance to deal with the growing disaster.
“But were still in the middle of fighting a fire at this point in time, all our resources are focused on trying to contain what is coming at us.”
STAY INFORMED - Georgetown - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 11:06am Monday, 11 November 2024
— Queensland Fire Department (@QldFireDept) November 11, 2024
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/CMqxEjaVXapic.twitter.com/v8NGiSA1se
EARLIER: A prepare to leave alert has been issued for a tiny outback town as a huge slow moving fire bears down on the township of Forsayth.
Water bombing aircraft have been sent to back up ground crews fighting a huge fire tracking directly for the outpost.
Queensland Fire Department at 9.08am on Monday issued a stay informed alert for Forsayth, Georgetown and surrounding areas in response to a bushfire moving in a westerly direction from Einasleigh.
At 11.06am QFD upgraded the warning level to an advice status.
QFD in a fresh warning confirmed the fire in Georgetown and surrounding areas was burning on Einasleigh Road in Einasleigh and “moving towards Forsayth”.
“Firefighting aircraft are helping ground crews,” QFD says.
“Major roads or highways may be impacted, including Einasleigh Road.”
QFD have issued “multiple warnings”.
At 11.25am a prepare to leave alert was issued for a warning area between Forsayth Airport and Stockman Creek Road, including Forsayth township, Einasleigh Road and Curralle Station.
“Conditions could get worse quickly,” according to QFD.
“Firefighters are working to control the fire. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.”
No properties are currently at risk but conditions could get worse quickly.
At this stage no property is at risk according to the QFD but reports from Rural Fire Service Queensland firefighters on the ground described the blaze as “angry” and efforts to stop the westward advance of the huge fire front appear have been limited in their success so far.
“Nothing that would normally work is working and now the township of Forsayth is in danger,” one firefighter said.
A fire front spanning about 25kms north to south appears to have originated near Einasleigh to fan out as it moves west and is now at the southern front is near Goldsmith Creek, about 15km southeast of Forsayth.
It is understood the fire was sparked by a spark from a grinder in Einasleigh the Shire of Etheridge on Wednesday last week.
A council spokesman said the fire had “moved progressively west throughout the week, toward the town of Forsyth”.
The tiny town has a population of about 100 people.
Originally published as Fire alert: Queensland Fire Department issues warning for tiny Far North Qld town of Forsayth
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