Cape York: Cooktown fire travels on Oaky Creek Road
Police have revoked an emergency declaration under the Public Preservation Act after a dangerous and uncontrolled bushfire at Cooktown.
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UPDATE: Police have revoked an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) after a bushfire burning in the vicinity of Cooktown.
Conditions have begun to ease and there is no longer an imminent threat.
“Firefighters are conducting backburning operations and will continue to monitor the situation overnight,” QPS said in a statement.
“The exclusion zone encompassing Reid St, Endeavour Valley Rd and west to Jensen Crossing Rd has been reopened from 11.30pm.
“Local residents are advised to stay informed in relation to overnight weather conditions.”
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EARLIER: COOKTOWN residents near Ironwood Avenue and Oaky Creek Road have been urged to leave immediately as a large, dangerous and uncontrolled fire burns near Ironwood Ave and Oaky Creek Road.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has advised the fire is travelling on both sides of Oaky Creek Road.
Residents have been advised that leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
“Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous,” a QFES spokesman said.
“(The fire) is expected to impact multiple properties in the surrounding area. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.”
“Conditions are now very dangerous, and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
“The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path. Fire crews may not be able to protect your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost, and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.”
Residents have been advised to wear protective clothing, drink plenty of water and keep medication close in the event of respiratory conditions.
Those unable to leave should bring pets inside and secure them, to fil ontainers with drinking and firefighting waer, close windows and doors and seal gaps with wet towels.
The spokesman said safe shelters “would be a place with more than one exit, preferably inside a brick building, away from windows and doors.”
EARLIER: A bushfire has burnt perilously close to passing traffic as authorities warn the Far North to prepare for four days of high and very high fire danger.
Pamela Fenton was driving along the Gillies Range Rd about 4.30pm on Friday when she came side-by-side with a wall of flames.
Motorists speculated the blaze was a controlled burn that had gotten out of hand — but a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said that was not the case.
She said it was a vegetation fire that was still burning on Saturday, although it was now safely inside containment lines.
The region is expected to remain cloaked in smoke for several days to come, with motorists warned to be alert for reduced visibility.
Smoke hazard signs have been erected along the busy highway.
Rural Fire Service crews were on scene at a vegetation fire burning in inaccessible land near Endeavour Valley Road at Cooktown, between the Annan River and Keatings Lagoon Conservation Park, on Saturday morning.
The fire was posing no threat to property at this time.
Fires were burning at Hodzic Rd in Biboohra, on the Gillies Range Rd at Lamb Range and near the intersection of the Kennedy Hwy and Millstream Falls Rd in Ravenshoe on Friday morning.
Another fire was burning on both sides of the Mareeba Dimbulah Rd between North Walsh Rd and Chettle Rd on Friday afternoon.
Rural Fire Service crews were tasked to a grass fire at Seisia, northwest of Bamaga, about 2.30pm on Friday.
“The fire is posing no threat to property at this time,” the service said in a statement.
“Firefighters are working to contain the blaze.
“There is thick smoke in the area. People are asked to close windows and doors and keep medications close by.
“Motorists should drive with caution and to conditions.”
The Rural Fire Service has also issued warnings of high and very high fire danger levels across the Far North over the coming four days.
Originally published as Cape York: Cooktown fire travels on Oaky Creek Road