Western Downs bushfire alerts: Residents near Tara can return to properties

Evacuated residents on the Western Downs have been told they can return to their properties, while in other parts a forest fire could burn for weeks.

A large forest fire in the Western Downs could burn for weeks, authorities say.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service raised the bushfire level from “Advice” to “Watch and Act” for Dunmmore and Ducklo about 7.30am Sunday morning before returning the warning to an “Advice” level two hours later.

“The fire burning in the Kumbarilla State Forest and Dunmore State Forest could burn for several weeks,” the 9.30am warning said.

“Firefighting aircraft are helping ground crews. Major roads or highways may be impacted, including Cecil Plains Moonie Road, Cecil Plains.”

The warning area was between Moonie Highway, Millmerran Cecil Plains Road and Weir River Road.

NASA satellite image of Western Downs fire

It comes after evacuated residents near Tara were told Sunday morning they could return to their properties but to watch out for dangers and that the fires would likely burn for days.

Residents near a bushfire burning near Tara had been urged to leave immediately Saturday night or risk being isolated. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service issued an update at 6.17am Sunday, the the bushfire warning for the area had dropped to an “advice” level and said residents could now “return with caution”.

“The fire near Mary Road is now burning in containment lines and will continue to burn for several days,” the warning said.

The warning area was issued for properties between Mary Road, Bennett School Road, Orchid Road, Tomalou Lane and Robbos Road, and said residents should watch out for hazards in the area such as burnt trees, hot embers on the ground and fallen powerlines.

It also warned residents to avoid driving on Mary Rd.

Emergency Services say it will take at least a week to extinguish a fire that started in the Dunmore and Kumbarilla State Forests

It comes after residents had been urged on Saturday night to leave immediately or risk being isolated.

An alert issued by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services just after 5pm on Saturday said the fire burning near Mary Rd was expected to impact Robbos Rd very soon.

“LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive,” the warning said.

An evacuation centre was established at the Tara Customer Service Centre, 19 Fry St, for people without a safe place to go.

Emergency services had said Saturday night that conditions could worsen quickly, with properties likely to be impacted and firefighters may not be able to stop the blaze getting closer.

They also warned that power, water, and mobile phone services may stop working soon while smoke will make it hard to see, breathe and will sting eyes.

“It will be hot and loud. You may hear explosions nearby.”

“The sky will be dark.”

Just before 6.30pm QFES advised evacuated residents that it was not yet safe to return.

Firefighters were working to contain the fire still burning near Mary Rd.

Motorists were asked to avoid driving on Mary, Robbos or Winfield roads.

Fire burns just outside Tara. Picture: Melissa Grant

Earlier on Saturday, landholders near Lake Broadwater at Dalby were warned to be on high alert after the Dunmore State Forest and Kumbarilla State Forest fires broke containment lines overnight and pushed north.

Rural Fire Service Regional Manager Wayne Waltisbuhl said the fire crews were putting a plan in place to protect property and grazing land that is under threat.

“The fire is volatile, extremely active and is putting up a lot of smoke,” he said.

“It jumped out of the northern end of the containment lines and made a big run to the north in forest country.

“We won’t stop it there.”

As the dangerous Western Downs fires continued into the night, evacuated residents near Tara remained unable to return.

A giant plume of smoke billowing from the fire was impacting Cattle Creek, Warra, Yandilla and surrounding areas, with the Dalby air monitoring station recording “poor” air quality.

As the smoke drifted north it also affected areas surrounding Kingaroy and added to already smoke-affected areas in the North Burnett region.

The Gayndah air monitoring station recorded “extremely poor” air quality near Good Night and Morganville as an under control fire burnt near Booyal Crossing Road.

Meanwhile the Kingaroy air monitoring station recorded a “very poor” rating.

On Saturday afternoon Queensland Fire and Emergency Services reiterated its “prepare to leave” warning for residents of Ducklo and Dunmore, near Kumbarilla.

A large bushfire was burning in the Kumbarilla State Forest and Dunmore State Forest travelling towards the Moonie Highway.

Anyone between the Moonie Highway, Nandi Road, Dalby Cecil Plains Road and Haliford Road have been warned some properties in the area are at risk.

The warning also applied to residents between Dunmore State Forest, Weir River Road, Boundary Road, and Millmerran Cecil Plains Road.

The fire was likely to impact the community later on Saturday, according to QFES, with smoke already impacting Dalby, Cattle Creek, Warra, Yandilla and surrounding areas.

Inside the Tara evacuation zone. Picture: Darling Angie

Earlier, emergency services are bringing in specialist equipment to map the fireground as smoke has significantly affected visibility from the air.

Mr Waltisbuhl said the crews will put their efforts into fighting the fire in the open grazing county between the forests and Lake Broadwater.

“Campers at the Lake Broadwater Campground have been asked to find alternative accommodation and the Western Downs Regional Council has established an evacuation site at the Dalby Showgrounds,” he said.

By Friday afternoon there were concerns that the fire would threaten the Cecil Plains township or the Queensland Cotton gin and store yard.

The change in wind appears to have saved both sites from direct impact, however, a large amount of smoke is expected to impact Dalby, Ducklo, Lake Broadwater, Kumbarilla and Cecil Plains for several days.

“We are setting up for a seven-day operation,” Mr Waltisbuhl said.

“This is only the start of our fire season and we have not seen peak conditions yet.

“If we get multiple fires in the area it will cause issues with resourcing.”

A large fire that started from a lightning strike in the Dunmore Forest has broken its containment lines and push north overnight, threatening homes and grazing land. September 9, 2023.

What you should do:

– 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.

– Avoid driving on Cecil Plains Moonie Road, Cecil Plains.

– 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.

– Stay informed:

– Keep checking the QFES Current Bushfires and Warnings website.

– Follow QFES on Facebook and Twitter.

– Listen to your local radio station.