As catastrophic fire conditions continue across the state, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services continue to battle fires on multiple fronts.
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Queensland authorities on high alert as strong winds, high temperatures increase fire danger
More than 60 bushfires are burning across Queensland and there are concerns they could erupt today due to scorching temperatures and strong winds creating catastrophic conditions. A total of 188 fire crews are battling to keep the fires under control. ROLLING COVERAGE
60 fires burning across Queensland, at least at 'watch and act' level and six at 'stay informed'
Main areas of concern are the Scenic Rim, west of Yeppoon and in the Lockyer Valley
9 homes destroyed, 100,000ha of land razed
Rising temperatures and strong winds expected to raise fire warning level from severe to extreme
Health warning over southeast smoke haze, with major Brisbane CBD project shut down
Thousands of troops on standby to replace exhausted fire crews
CONFUSING wind patterns, hot weather and no rain in sight will make firefighters' jobs all the harder in battling the blazes gripping the state.
Currently 188 fire crews are attending to more than 50 fires burning across Queensland.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today the state is being plagued by “catastrophic conditions” that will not help firefighters on the ground battling blazes stretching from the Gold Coast to Cape York.
Get all the latest live coverage in our bushfire emergency blog below.
Live Updates
New list of fire warnings
Moving account from inside the firestorm
AS catastrophic fire conditions continue across parts of Queensland and NSW another bushfire account continues to go viral on social media.
A poignant first-person account by John McGrath, describing what it was like to be in the Yeppoon area on Saturday when bushfires spread throughout Central Queensland has touched the hearts of thousands of people around the world.
Family evacuates rugged Black Snake country
At least one family has evacuated Black Snake Mountain as local volunteers and fireys continue the battle to protect about 20 homes nestled among the thick and inaccessible eucalypt bushland about 18km west of Gympie.
The other 19 families are reportedly still in their homes in the Jackson Road, Webb Road and Upper Thornside Road areas, while the fire which has already burnt out a huge tract of bushland and is moving in a south-easterly direction towards the Widgee township, which is overlooked by a section of the Black Snake Range.
Widgee Rural Fire Brigade warden George Cotter said the biggest hurdle of the fire, part of which had crept over the Widgee side of the range, was inaccessibility.
"It's really difficult to combat a fire in such rugged country," he said.
– Frances Klein
Mayor's message on climate change
It's time to ditch emotional and political debate on climate change and act.
That was the clear message Livingstone mayor Bill Ludwig delivered to the state and federal governments today as he confirmed that up to 11 homes and six liveable structures had been destroyed by bushfires in the shire.
“We are seeing change – we are seeing a different dynamic both in the intensity and frequency of climatic conditions whether it’s from cyclones, from wild storms and in this case, fires that are coming more frequently and with a greater intensity,” Cr Ludwig said.
“You have to acknowledge that, that change is happening.
“And it’s very important – I’d like this message to go out to both the federal and the state governments.
“We need more resources to go into mitigation of disaster events and in particular fire management (so) that we invest in more regular programs of cool burns and put those resources in now.
“So rather than argue (about) climate variability and climate change, let’s recognise that there is a change in circumstance and respond to that appropriately, rather than going into emotive debate.
“Let’s do something tangible and let’s put those resources in where they’re most needed so that we can actually prepare our community for the likelihood that these events are going to come more frequently, and probably with greater intensity.”
– Darren Nufer
Waterbombing stops but fire threat remains
AIRCRAFT have now stopped waterbombing a fire burning on the Sunshine Coast, yet the threat still remains.
A QFES spokesman said the blaze at Meridan Plains, roughly 1-2ha large, was now heading in a westerly direction.
Twenty fire crews are still on the scene battling the blaze as the bushfire warning level remains at advice.
The Queensland Police Service are still advising motorists to avoid the area.
– Eden Boyd
Waterbombing over Meridan Plains
Benjamin Goudie-Park captured these images of waterbombing helicopters over Meridan Plains on the Sunshine Coast this afternoon.
Road closures as fireys battle Boonah blaze
Fireys are expecting road and park closures as well as urging caution as interstate fire crews join the battle at Boonah.
Queensland Rural Fire Service regional manager Superintendent Alan Gillespie said residents need to remain vigilant with fierce winds and lightning predicted for the coming days.
The fire at Laidley Creek has been deemed safe by Queensland Parks crews however residents near to the Lefthand Branch fires are urged caution with high winds predicted for tomorrow while the fires at Boonah continue moving, plaguing fire fighters.
"We've got severe fire weather coming and fire warnings with complex winds (today)," Mr Gillespie said.
"While we've got no major new blazes, the current fires we've got are very large and in remote areas and proving extremely difficult to contain."
Mr Gillespie lamented the only thing that will douse the fires in remote areas is "inches and inches of rain".
"My message to people is clear: you should have a bushfire survival plan, know it, practice it, if you are in a bushfire area, listen to our warnings," he said, and urged residents to follow all available QFES media including Facebook and Twitter.
Firefighters from the Northern Territory and Tasmania will be joining Queensland crews at Boonah.
"Depending on the weather conditions, the closure of the Cunningham Hwy is inevitable but we're expecting that to be within the next 24 hours," Mr Gillespie said.
"The fire is now heading in a south-easterly direction (towards the mountains)."
Mr Gillespie said exploding rocks, trees and embers when the fire hits Mount Mathieson will be the trigger point for the closure of the Cunningham Hwy.
As part of a State of Fire Emergency Ipswich City Council has also closed a number of parks.
– Navarone Farrell
Farmer loses machinery and half his trees
Bruce Sloper is counting the cost of the weekend’s bushfires after returning to his custard apple farm on Byfield Road.
The fires outside Yeppoon destroyed the shed which housed his bore pump and farm machinery.
“That was a hydraulic pruner worth about 15 thousand; that was a fruit processor took about 10 thousand to design and build,” he said, pointing to blackened, twisted pieces of metal still smoking in the shade.
Mr Sloper, a retired Naval officer who served in Vietnam has seen plenty of battles but the speed behind the recent fires took him by surprise.
“You don’t expect this kind of ferociousness,” he said.
“I was helping my neighbour Carl when all the treetops just ignited and, with the wind behind it, the fire just took off.
“It’s just another challenge in the rich pageantry of life, I guess.”
Mr Sloper said he remains “philosophical” about rebuilding his shed and replenishing the orchards which have lost half their trees.
Thankfully, his “big shed” – which contains the processing room and freezers – was unharmed.
– Jann Houley
If you're wondering about the latest information from QFES about bushfires in your area, we have a full list here.
Picture: AAP/Dan Peled
Full list of Queensland fire warnings
If you're wondering about the latest information from QFES about bushfires in your area, we have a full list here.
Picture: AAP/Dan Peled
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