Queensland Fire and Emergency Services fighting blaze at Mary and Wains Roads, Wieambilla

A giant blaze is threatening homes near the Wieambilla property where two police officers and one civilian were murdered last week as firefighters work desperately to stop the fire from spreading.

The Wieambilla property that was the scene of a horrific triple murder is under the threat of fire as emergency crews scramble to control the blaze.

Residents near Tara in the Western Downs region of Queensland have been urged to prepare to evacuate their homes Wednesday as a bushfire continued to rage overnight.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service issued a new warning at 6.22am advising those on Wains Road and west of Wains Road that there was a ‘heightened level of threat’ to the area.

“There is a heightened level of threat and conditions are changing,” the warning statement said. “Prepare to leave and start taking protective action now.”

The statement said a “fast moving” fire was burning on Mary Road and spreading towards Wains Road.

Are large fire is burning north from Mary Road, along Wains Road and Chinchilla-Tara Road at Wieambilla.

“Conditions could get worse quickly,” the warning stated.

“Firefighters are working to contain the fire, however you should not expect a firefighter at your door.”

Several homes were evacuated on Tuesday evening.

Angie Fraser lives opposite the fire ground on Mary Road and fled with her mum and child about 9pm on Tuesday.

“We could hear the noise of the fire and it was pretty frightening plus the smoke was just too much,” she said.

A grass fire tore through the rear of their Ms Fraser property earlier this year clearing a decent amount the fuel load, but Ms Fraser said she was concerned the fire could jump the road and reach unburnt scrub in front of her home.

“The fire was going northwest and then the wind changed and it started heading east,” she said.

“When you are surrounded by bush there are so many directions a fire can go in.”

A QFES spokesman said firefighting crews defended at least one home from the blaze overnight and that further properties were at risk if conditions worsened.

“It remained severe throughout the night, we’re bringing in earth moving equipment to create fire breaks, have the air fire crew on standby and southeast region crews are coming to assist,” he said.

Several homes were evacuated ahead of the fire front.

A QFES task force has been called in from Southeast Queensland to relieve volunteers and staff who worked through the night.

There are reports of spot fire igniting well ahead of the fire front, complicating efforts to contain the blaze.

While most of Queensland’s fire danger rating is moderate for Wednesday, the QFES spokesman said this can change any time and urged residents to monitor ratings and warnings.

The fire is a short distance from where Queensland Police Constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, and neighbour Alan Dare were murdered by Gavin, Stacey and Nathaniel Train in Wieambilla, near Tara on December 12.

The two officers, along with Constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, had gone to the house of Gareth and Stacey Train to ask after Gareth’s brother Nathaniel, a former school principal reported missing in New South Wales.

All three Trains were at the property and opened fire on the four officers as they approached the house.

Constable Kirk managed to escape in a police car while Constable Brough fled into the bush.

The trio hunted Const Brough for about two hours, firing their weapons and setting fire to scrub to flush her out.

The memorial for Constables McCrow and Arnold is scheduled for 10am Wednesday at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has warned residents near between Robbos, Winfield and Chinchilla Tara roads to prepare to leave as fire crews continue to battle a massive blaze on Mary and Wains roads travelling towards Wains Road, Wiembilla.

There are now fifteen fire crews working to extinguish the blaze since the first fire crew arrived at the scene at about 12pm.

There have been multiple fires in the area since the shoot but this recent fire started early on December 20.

PREPARE TO LEAVE - Mary Road (near Tara) - fire as at 4:08pm Tuesday, 20 December 2022.
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/IAIE6tG8Dw

— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) December 20, 2022

What you should do:

– If you have a bushfire survival plan, refer to it now.

– Decide where you and other members of your home (including pets) will go if you need to leave. Plan how you will get there and advise family and friends of your plans.

– Pack essential items such as important documents, food and water, medications, and protective clothing.

– Stay hydrated.

– Avoid smoke – stay indoors, close windows and doors, and avoid driving through smoke where possible.

– Move flammable items away from your house.

– Fill containers with water for drinking and firefighting.

– Help others prepare for the fire.

– Be aware of firefighters working in the area.

– Stay informed by following QFES on Facebook and Twitter, listening to your local radio station, and checking this dashboard regularly.

– If your life or property is threatened, call Triple-0 (000) immediately.

Impacts:

– Some properties are currently under threat.

– The fire is likely to impact the community in the coming hours.

– Reduced air quality may cause health impacts for some people.

– Smoke may reduce visibility and affect driving conditions.

– Embers may impact properties. Try to extinguish embers quickly.

– Roads may be closed.