Qld bushfires: Latest updates and warnings as fires rage across Western Downs and Qld
A man whose body was found in the fire-ravaged Western Downs has been identified, as dry lightning strikes trigger a new emergency warning and 16 homes are confirmed destroyed. LATEST UPDATES
Emergency Services
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A man whose body was found in Queensland’s fire-ravaged Western Downs has been identified, as dry lightning strikes trigger new emergency warning and 16 homes are confirmed destroyed.
Police believe the man found at a Tara property on Tuesday evening was property owner Ulrich Widawski, however, a forensic examination is required to 100 per cent confirm the identity.
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It is understood Mr Widawski had been reported missing by family as the enormous fires engulfed entire properties in the region.
Sixteen homes have been destroyed and two lives lost as firefighters battle out-of-control bushfires fuelled by the “worst conditions in 40 years”.
Overnight, storms delivered an “absolutely peppering” of dry lightning strikes that have ignited five new fires.
“Overnight, we’ve had some storms come through and it saddens me to report that we’ve been absolutely peppered in the area with dry lightning that resulted in five new ignitions,” Queensland Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Peter Hollier said.
One of those fires ignited by a lightning strike is at Halliford, between Tara and Dalby, and is causing concern for firefighters, with an emergency warning issued about 11.30am.
The warning affects properties between the Moonie Highway, Schultzs Road and Broadwater Road including Halliford Road and the Kumbarilla State Forest.
“We had a very busy night with already stretched local crews having to go to more fires,” Inspector Ross Casey said on Thursday morning.
“We got a new fire which is kicked off last night and it’s now getting a fairly strong head of steam under it.
“Rural residential area with multiple structures under threat there. We’ve got multiple crews are down there actively working on structural defence.
“We’re not expecting a good day.”
Inspector Casey said lightning strikes with very little rain behind them were recorded between Dalby and Miles.
“So anything that did hit the ground, got a pretty good head start on it” he said.
Other “leave immediately” warnings that were issued about 10.30pm were cancelled by 7.30am, with one “watch and act” warning remaining in place for residents in Tara, Wieambilla, Kogan, Goranba and Weranga.
Residents in those areas have been told it is still not safe to return, however, and Inspector Casey said while the immediate threat was over, the Tara fire was still their main concern.
He said falling trees and exposed powerlines were a danger to residents.
“At this point in time (the Tara fire) is still out largest concern, it’s got the most potential, most residences around it.
“Today we’ve got changing winds … so anything on that north eastern side of the Tara fire is of concern for us.”
“The Halliford one that popped up this morning is showing very strong potential to carry throughout the day.”
“For us a fire that starts and is active as it is this time of the morning … it will be running very hard.”
She said that while the region saw some storm activity overnight the rain did not have any significant impact on the firegrounds.
One Tara local on Thursday morning told of the drama of her family’s midnight escape as a fast-moving bushfire approached, revealing their devastation upon discovering the scorched wasteland left in its wake.
Another resident said he’d been left with only the “clothes on his back”.
On the Western Downs, Tara was under threat on Wednesday night and 350 people living nearby who had evacuated to the town were forced to relocate again to Dalby.
A wildlife carer says her team is providing property updates while caring for animals affected by fires in the Western Downs.
Bry from B3ARS Animal Rescue-Western Downs said the animal rescue service has been doing daily animal welfare checks and pick-ups for sheltering.
She said unlike previous bushfires, “this time the fires moved a lot quicker – people had to leave their animals behind”.
Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said she is concerned that the damage to the Western Downs could be worse than anticipated with several residents cut off from loved ones.
Ms Leahy said volunteer firefighters had been called in from the Gold Coast and potentially interstate to relieve “exhausted” fireys.
“My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have died,” she said.
“I’m concerned the damage could be worse (than anticipated) … the wind has changed … so the fire is now going back on itself (towards the north).”
“I hope we are through the worst of it.”
Ms Leahy said it appeared the township of Tara had avoided catastrophe.
Water-bombing aircraft were on Wednesday called in to help ground crews, with senior firefighters saying they were bracing for harsh weather conditions on Thursday, including gusty and dry winds which could help spark wind-driven fires.
Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said yesterday that at least 11,000ha have been burned.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Fire Weather warning overnight with extreme fire danger forecast for the Central West, North West, Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego fire weather districts.
“Hot and dry conditions with fresh and gusty south-easterly winds will drive elevated fire dangers on Thursday,” they said.
The second person to die as a result of the fires was an elderly woman who had a cardiac arrest while preparing to evacuate her property on Monday, authorities say.
Crews on Wednesday were desperately trying to stop the bushfire turning towards Tara, about 12km south.
“We haven’t really been able to contain this fire at all,” Supt Waltisbuhl said.
“This is my 43rd fire season. This is the worst conditions I’ve seen over those years.
“We’ve seen fire behaviour at night time that (caused) some really good and experienced firefighters last night to ring up and go ‘we’ve never seen this sort of fire behaviour at night’.”
Further south, at Millmerran, residents were told it was still unsafe to return to their homes.
QFES Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Hollier said there were 60 active fires across Queensland.
There were more than 50 local government areas in Queensland with a total fire ban on Wednesday, or more than two thirds of the state.
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“As you are well aware we have been fighting more than 100 vegetation fires across the state already this week,” he said.
“As the conditions are prevailing, certainly the very high to extreme fire danger conditions are still continuing.”
Mr Hollier said conditions remained hot, dry and windy and that he was “absolutely” worried about forecasts of gusty and dry winds on Thursday.
“Absolutely, so what has been a constant in the last few days has been the wind and certainly the strength of the wind,” he said.
“If the wind was to then become further gusty, that then increases the opportunity for the fire to certainly make a run and it would certainly be difficult to contain.
“The challenge is, of course, things are so dry. We haven’t seen it so dry, we’ve come off three years of a really good wet period.
“That southwestern part of the state certainly hasn’t had any significant rain since last year whereas other parts of the state have.
“They’re in a situation out there where I’ve said it only takes the slightest spark, with the wind, with the temperature, it certainly is the opportunity for a fire to make a run fairly quickly.”
As crews continued battling the fire near Tara, Supt Waltisbuhl said fire breaks were being made and an aerial tanker was doing drops.
Supt Waltisbuhl said rainfall over the past few years had resulted in a lot of growth in the area, followed by a period of drought.
“So we’ve got this ladder fuel combination of grasses on the ground, linking up to middle strata, and then right up to the canopy,” Supt Waltisbuhl said.
“There were 20m flames coming out on the top of the forest out there and spotting into people’s yards and fires start straight away.”
On Tuesday night, crews were forced to withdraw from the fire ground as the blaze became too large to control.
“So it comes a point in time we have to make those decisions that we can’t stop this fire, let’s make sure everybody in front of the fire is out.”
Supt Waltisbuhl said the number of properties destroyed was unclear, but he expected there would be “many”.
Tayla Shaw and Jennifer Hallinan both grew up in Tara and were extremely emotional at the thought of leaving their home.
They both took time out of their work days to attend the community meeting and listen to warnings, but on Wednesday said they planned to stay.
“It’s very emotional and it’s quite scary,” Ms Hallinan said, holding back tears.
“I’ll stay at this stage and hope the retched wind goes away.”
Both Ms Hallinan and Ms Shaw work at the local FoodWorks and have been feeding hungry firefighters since Sunday night.
“We’ve been very busy catering for all the firefighters and all the evacuation centres, we are doing 12-hour days,” Ms Shaw said.
“We’ve had bushfires but nothing this close to town.
“Where do you start? What do you even pack?”
Fire bans: What you need to know
Under a local fire ban all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been suspended for the duration of the ban.
Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however QFES encourages people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start.
This may include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.
There are 53 out of 77 local government areas with a current total fire ban, covering 69 per cent of the state.
The below LGAs have active bans until Friday October 27 at 11:59pm
Maranoa Regional
Mckinlay Shire
Toowoomba Regional
Balonne Shire
Cloncurry Shire
Southern Downs Regional
Diamantina Shire
Mt Isa City
Western Downs Regional
Boulia Shire
Goondiwindi Regional
Carpentaria Shire
Burke Shire
The below LGAs have active bans until Saturday October 28 at 11:59pm
Richmond Shire
Flinders Shire
Charters Towers Regional
The below LGAs have active bans until Monday October 30 at 11:59pm
Cook Shire
Bundaberg Regional
North Burnett Regional
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire
Cassowary Coast Regional
Croydon Shire
Torres Shire
Douglas Shire
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Shire
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire
Torres Strait Island Regional
Weipa Town
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire
Mareeba Shire
Napranum Aboriginal Shire
Gympie Regional
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire
Tablelands Regional
South Burnett Regional
Aurukun Shire
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire
Etheridge Shire
Cairns Regional
Fraser Coast Regional
The below LGAs have active bans until Wednesday November 1 at 11:59pm
Blackall Tambo Regional
Barcaldine Regional
Winton Shire
Banana Shire
Whitsunday Regional
Rockhampton Regional
Longreach Regional
Barcoo Shire
Mackay Regional
Livingstone Regional
Gladstone Regional
Isaac Regional
Central Highlands Regional
What to do in the path of a bushfire
– If you have a bushfire survival plan, follow it now.
– Prepare now so you can leave quickly if the bushfire gets close:
– Decide where you and the people you live with will go. This could be with family or a friend away from the fire. Plan how you will get there. Tell others where you will go.
– Charge mobile phones and power banks.
– Be ready to take your pets, pet food, pet lead or crate/carrier.
– Pack a bag with a mobile phone charger, enough clothes for five days, important documents (like ID, insurance papers, passports and photos), medicine, cash and keys.
– If you do not drive, call your support service, a family member or a friend to organise transport if you need to leave or want to leave.
– If you find it hard to move quickly, leaving now is your safest option.
– Keep medications close by.
– Move flammable items away from your house if you can.
– Help others if it’s safe to do so.
– Watch out for firefighters working in the area.
– Do not fly drones around the fire. Drones affect air operations.
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