Multiple bushfires continue to burn after weekend heatwave triggers blazes

Fire and emergency crews continue to battle multiple grass fires throughout the state as temperatures soar. Two blazes have ripped through more than 4000 hectares in the Western Downs.

Fire and emergency crews continue to battle multiple grass fires throughout the state as temperatures soar.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issued an urgent evacuation order for residents in Western Downs after a fast-moving fire threatened homes and lives.

Residents in Myall Park and Hookswood, north of Miles, have been asked to leave immediately and told they should not expect a firefighter at their doors as conditions worsened.

The fire had already destroyed an estimated 4000ha, with firefighters still working to gain control of the uncontained fire as of late Monday night.

Two structures have already been destroyed by the blaze.

The warning comes after 50 residents were forced to evacuate Tara as a large out-of-control grass fire swept through Montrose on Sunday.

More than 50 fire crews have been battling two “out of control” bushfires in Western Downs.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said both fires were significant and remained uncontained as of 10.30am Monday, with the fire north of Miles expected to reach the Barakula State Forest by noon.

“The fire near miles is 2300ha in size and is out of control,” she said.

“It’s running in a northeasterly direction and is likely to impact the Barakula State Forest around midday today.

“We’ve got two striker teams from the south east arriving this morning to assist and aircraft have been out there doing mapping of the area.”

Another bushfire, burning across 840ha, is north of Tara.

More than 50 crews have been deployed to battle both blazes, with two watch and act alerts issued to nearby residents.

Many building structures have been lost, with QFES teams working to clarify exact numbers.

Earlier

Multiple bushfires are burning across Queensland, with residents in some areas told to leave their homes immediately, after the state sweltered through its hottest day of the year on Sunday.

In the 24 hours to 8am Monday, 50 vegetation fires were reported with more than 120 crews on scene battling the blazes.

Multiple fires were burning near Miles, with residents of Myall Park, south of Warramoo Road, told at 3.16am Monday to leave immediately before the alert was downgraded to “watch and act” five hours later. Containment lines had been put in place but required strengthening as the fire remained uncontained.

Winds are also expected to increase as the day progresses.

Residents in an area of land at Montrose, north of Tara were on Sunday afternoon told to evacuate immediately as crews battled an “erratic” bushfire across several fronts, with the situation remaining the same into Monday morning.

Some 50 residents are reported to have been evacuated.

Overnight, crews continued to battle the ever-growing fire with multiple structures under threat. The blaze has spread across 850 hectares with a number of sheds already burnt down.

No houses were lost as of late Sunday night.

That alert was downgraded to “watch and act” at 7.03am on Monday, with residents told to monitor the conditions.

LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Myall Park, south of Warramoo Road (near Miles) - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 3:16am Monday, 13 February 2023.
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/Asf8V8JwhY

— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) February 12, 2023

Five aircraft, one fire and rescue senior officer and multiple rural and urban appliances were tasked to the fire on Sunday.

It is believed the fire started from a fuel drum.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokeswoman said three people have been transported to hospital with “breathing problems” due to the bushfires in Tara.

At this stage it is unclear how many people have been evacuated due to the fire.

A number of urban and rural crews were also on scene in Montrose in the Western Downs with at least one structure destroyed by the blaze. An emergency warning remains in place as of late Sunday night with residents urged to leave immediately.

Police also established a Public Safety Preservation Act declaration for the area which includes Chinchilla Tara Road, Terese Road, Weitzels Road and South Road.

“Initial investigations indicate the fire started in a fuel drum near a house on Charles Street,” police said in a statement.

A watch and act was also issued by QFES with emergency services urging residents to be prepared to leave at Myall Park near Miles on Sunday night but this has now been downgraded to ‘stay informed’.

Residents in Wolvi, near Gympie were also told to be prepared to leave as a fast moving fire ripped through bushland.

However, this has also been downgraded to a “stay informed”.

A number of urban and rural crews are also at the scene in Montville in the Western Downs, with at least one structure on fire as of 3.30pm.

Police established a Public Safety Preservation Act declaration for the area, which includes Chinchilla Tara Road, Terese Road, Weitzels Road and South Road.

“Initial investigations indicate the fire started in a fuel drum near a house on Charles Street,” police said in a statement.

Police have declared a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) due to a fire in Tara in the area enclosed in Chinchilla Tara Road, Terese Road, Weitzels Road and South Road. Residents are being evacuated. Follow emergency service instructions. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/edGnOaRB2v

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) February 12, 2023

Urban and rural fire crews were battling the blaze on multiple fronts, along with five aircraft.

“A large, fast-moving fire burning near Timothy Road is travelling in multiple directions,” QFES said in an alert.

“This fire may pose a threat to lives. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.”

Meanwhile a smoke warning was issued for Woodgate, near Burrum Heads, because of a bushfire burning there.

Fires were also reported at Springside, Kobble Creekand and Wieambilla with residents urged to stay informed about the fire via the QFES warning website.

Bureau of Meteorology’s senior forecaster Harry Clarke said there was an extreme fire danger warning in several centres across Queensland on Sunday, but particularly in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

“What’s driving that is the hot temperatures, quite low humidity and a bit of a fresh south-westerly wind as well, so certainly combinations not great for fire danger,’’ he said.

“We do see the fire dangers more broadly across southern Queensland sitting around that high fire danger rating and we’re likely to see the fire danger ratings continue to be around high in that southern interior for a number of days to come yet.”

For up-to-date information and the latest warnings, head to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website.