Western Downs police reveal reports of looting from evacuated homes in Tara

Police have shared that an evacuated home in Wieambilla was one of the properties targeted by looters after hundreds of people were forced to leave their homes to escape life-threatening fires and seek shelter at evacuation centres.

Police have revealed horrific news that they have received multiple reports of looting from homes that were evacuated by residents across the Western Downs, with one of the targeted homes being in Wieambilla.

Queensland Police Service Superintendent Michael Thesfield shared on Tuesday afternoon that police were made aware of three different instances of theft, including tools being taken from a home in Wieambilla.

He said in separate offending, a vehicle was stolen from an evacuated home in a different area, and goods were taken from a third property.

“No one has been charged yet, this could be three isolated instances,” Superintendent Thesfield said.

QPS Superintendent Michael Thesfield and QFES Acting Superintendent Cameron Herbert at Dalby Fire Station, October 31 2023

“People take these opportunities and it’s disappointing, it’s happened while people have lost their homes and these (looters) have put themselves in danger as these properties were evacuated for a reason.”

QFES Acting Superintendent Cameron Herbert advised that no further structures had been lost (Tuesday) despite fire crews continuing to battle “challenging conditions”, and reaching extreme hot temperatures throughout the day.

“(Tuesday) crews started quite early to work on containment lines however we saw a change in wind direction that created challenging conditions,” he said.

He said that crews were prepared to use the large air tanker that was being kept at Wellcamp Airport until it was necessary to use.

QFRS Conair Q400 Large Aerial Tanker will be based at Wellcamp Airport, west of Toowoomba, to help combat multiple large bushfires burning the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

“It’s waiting to be deployed at any time and can be used throughout the region or state,” Acting Superintendent Herbert said.

“It depends on the severity of the situation and size of support that’s needed but it can be deployed fairly quickly.

“The whole state is crying out for these resources and it’s about prioritisation.”