Horror fire forecast accurate

WITH fires breaking out near Harrisville, Glamorgan Vale, Ingoldsby and along the Brisbane Valley Hwy, fears of a horror fire season are already being realised.

Firefighters are warning that fears of a horror fire season are already being realised.. Picture: File

RESIDENTS in regional areas are being urged to consider more than just the temperature when lighting fires.

With fires breaking out near Harrisville, Glamorgan Vale, Ingoldsby and along the Brisbane Valley Highway, firefighters are warning that fears of a horror fire season are already being realised.

Acting area director Corey Bock said while most people considered the wind direction when lighting fires, many people didn't consider the moisture levels in the air.

"The first things to do when you are lighting a planned fire is to have a look at the wind," he said.

"But one of the things people aren't thinking about is the humidity.

"The best time to burn is when the humidity is between 35% and 60%.

"There is an old rule of thumb that when the humidity is equal to or below the temperature, the fire will be difficult to control."

Mr Bock said recent fires had been due to planned burns escaping or people deliberately lighting fires.

He said the deliberately lit fires weren't necessarily arson, but often small fires or incinerators that started a fire.

Almost all fires needed a permit at the moment, he said.

"We're right in the middle of a declared fire danger period.

"That means fires less than 2m need a permit and the same permit conditions apply to bigger fires."

Fires across the region were extinguished by firefighters over the weekend with no buildings damaged by the blazes.

Forty hectares of land was burnt near Glamorgan Vale before firefighters extinguished the fire, while a fire near Harrisville threatened a number of sheds before being put out.

Ipswich police were required to conduct traffic control along the Brisbane Highway after a fire near Esk burnt out of control, and a number of brigades were forced to respond to a fire south of Gatton on several fronts on Saturday.

Mr Bock said when conducting a burn it was important to inform neighbouring properties, and alert the authorities if a fire was spotted when people were away.

"The difference between an early and a late response can make all the difference," he said.

Originally published as Horror fire forecast accurate