‘Wall of flames coming straight at us’: The new rural community staring down firestorm
A wall of fire moving from treetop to treetop in Halliford has forced an emergency evacuation as residents bundle up what they can and flee to safety.
Emergency Services
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A wall of fire moving from treetop to treetop in Halliford has forced an emergency evacuation as residents bundle up what they can and flee to safety.
The fast-moving fire was sparked by a lightning strike about 8.30pm last night on a property on Halliford Rd, and intensified on Thursday morning.
About 9am on Thursday, QFES issued a “prepare to leave” warning for residents in the area.
Despite extensive water bombing and tireless efforts by firefighters, the blaze moved quickly and a “leave immediately” warning was issued hours later.
Strong winds in the area moved the fire quickly along Halliford Rd, leaping from treetop to treetop before it reached a staging point and forced fire crews to move back about 9am.
The intense blaze has caused a thick layer of smoke to linger in the area and has caused spot fires hundreds of metres ahead of the main blaze.
Fire crews started going door-to-door evacuating residents.
Rural Fire Service volunteer Craig Young was one of many firefighters working in the area on Thursday morning.
“We are just patrolling up here, trying to keep that fire contained on the southern side of that break,” he said.
“It is moving fast, fortunately the wind has a lot of west in it.”
Mr Young arrived at the fire ground on Wednesday afternoon, saying he worked until about 8pm last night before getting up early and going again.
“We’re good, we’re fed, we’re watered, ask us in about four or five days,” he said.
Property manager Kate Brown managed the property where the fire initially sparked on Wednesday night.
“Last night about 8.30pm one of the neighbours rang to tell my husband that there’s been a fire started by a lightning strike, we were currently camped out at another property,” Ms Brown said.
“It was going last night, and it died off this morning, but it has significantly got going now purely because of the debris and the dry conditions.”
Ms Brown said at one point last night, four fires were alight on the property.
“The main one that they’re concerned about is the main one heading straight towards us.”
Ms Brown’s husband, Matthew, was on the fireground with firefighters helping them on a dozer and with local land knowledge.
Ms Brown and her daughter, Lucy, were waiting to hear from him in a safe area north of the fire.
“I come over to see if my husband is alright and apparently he’s on a dozer out there on the fire line.
“I got halfway down the road the fire was too intense I had to turn around and come back.
“It was in the treetops just literally jumping from treetop to treetop.
“I’m a little bit anxious … but everyone’s safety, that’s the main concern is that everyone stays safe and gets out of it.”
Mr Brown said he felt he needed to help and has been working closely alongside crews all morning.
“I know the land, backhand information and it’s really good to help them all the volunteers, you got to hook in and do what you can to help everyone,” Mr Brown said.
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