State remains on high alert as 120 bushfires rage
Ten people have been evacuated from Eungella in central Queensland as bushfires close in. LATEST UPDATES
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PREMIER: Very high fire danger continues, long way to go
‘LEAVE NOW’: Deepwater; Baffle Creek; Rules Beach; Oyster Creek
‘PREPARE TO LEAVE’: Ellerbeck (near Cardwell); Winfield (as a result of Deepwater fire); Captain Creek; Dalrymple Heights
‘SEEK SHELTER’: Broken River; Finch Hatton; Eungella; Dalrymple Heights (formerly Broken River); Crediton (formerly Broken River)
‘STAY INFORMED’: Rungoo; The Caves; Mount Fox (south west of Ingham); Carmila; Kabra (formerly Stanwell/Kabra); Kowari Gorge bushfire (encompassing the Eungella bushfire); Rungoo; Carruchan (near Cardwell); Ellerbeck (near Cardwell); Warrami (south of Tully); Undullah; North Stradbroke Island; Tinnanbar; Mutchilba (near Atherton); The Caves; Mount Larcom (formerly Ambrose); Round Hill; South of Baffle Creek; Delaneys Creek; Walkamin (formerly Mutchilba); Wamuran
CYCLONE WATCH: Moderate chance of cyclone forming, adding to extreme weather conditions
TEN people were evacuated from Eungella tonight as the intense bushfire closed Range Rd.
RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter tonight airlifted a total of ten people to safety as a large bushfire front threatened the town and closed the Range Road.
The Mackay-based helicopter, with a critical care paramedic and rescue crew officer on board, departed at 5pm and flew 80km to the mountain-top village.
Queensland Police directed the rescue helicopter to a meeting point two kilometres west of the town on Bee Creek Rd.
First on board of the evacuees was a man and three young boys, one with a medical history of asthma, they were quickly flown to Finch Hatton at the showgrounds.
The helicopter then returned to the same place to transport another six people, including an adult, an infant, two teenagers and two young girls.
“The RACQ CQ Rescue crew witnessed an incredible act of selflessness as a man and woman at the scene, believed to be Eungella residents and rural firefighters, opted to have their family, one of which was a baby, board the aircraft and be evacuated while they stayed behind on the mountain to continue to fight the fires on the range,” a RACQ CQ media release stated,
The airlift of the ten people took an hour and fifteen minutes, and was deemed by authorities as the safest form of evacuation as the fire had closed the main road.
None of the passengers were injured or required medical treatment.
Earlier, the State Government announced community recovery support for more impacted areas across the Gladstone, Bundaberg and Rockhampton regions.
The expanding assistance includes Ready Reserves, who are travelling across hard-hit areas to help local residents as well as Emergency Hardship Assistance grants of up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family or five or more.
Community recovery hubs were open in areas including Miriam Vale, Gracemere and Mackay, while two more recovery hubs will open tomorrow in Mirani and Sarina.
Earlier, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said people in Eungella were safe in the community centre.
“We have equipment and appliances there we have some aerial water bombing taking place, but I ask everyone to please be patient and to please listen to advice,” she said.
“We have changing wind conditions happening all the time.
“We really need people to listen to the authorities, to make sure they have their radios on.
“A lot of sea breezes are coming in, it’s going to be like this for the next few days.”
QFES state co-ordinator Gary McCormack said there is a large amount of resources fighting the fire at Eungella.
“We have 25 appliances, we have two fixed wing aircraft and we have a large air tanker which has also done one drop, word is at the moment that drop was successful, so we have a lot of crews on site in defensive mode protecting that community at the moment,” he said.
QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there was still well over 100 fires across the state and several hundred staff on the ground still.
An emergency bushfire warning was earlier released by QFES for residents in Broken River, Finch Hatton, Eungella, Dalrymple Heights and Crediton to seek shelter.
At 6pm today, QFES warn there is a bushfire approaching Broken River and it is now too late for residents to leave the area as driving would be extremely dangerous.
A large fire is travelling west towards Broken River, it is expected to impact Broken River, Finch Hatton, Eungella, Dalrymple Heights and Crediton.
The fire is expected to have a life-threatening impact on the community.
Condition are now very dangerous and firefighters are unable to prevent the fire advancing, it poses a threat to all lives directly in its path.
For those residents who were planning on leaving Dalrymple Heights, Broken River, Finch Hatton, Eungella and Crediton, stay at your property and seek shelter.
For those residents who have left Dalrymple Heights and are headed to Eungella you must head back to your homes now and seek shelter as it is not safe to continue travelling.
6pm: A rescue helicopter has been sent to the bush fire zone at Eungella to airlift nine women and children to safety at Finch Hatton.
The RACQ CQ helicopter is currently en route.
It comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was an unfolding situation in Eungella near Mackay.
“Authorities are making decisions as we speak,” she tweeted.
25 appliances and air tankers are on site at the bush fire.
“Senior fire authorities and police will do everything to keep the Eungella community safe,” the Premier tweeted.
“Rapidly changing situation there and across the state.
“This is another reminder on day 6 of this emergency that the threat is prolonged and continuing.
“Please stay tuned to warnings.”
Meanwhile residents of Broken River, Finch Hatton, Eungella and Dalrymple Heights, west of Mackay, have been told it’s too late to leave, as a bushfire approaches.
QFES says driving now would be too dangerous, and the safest option is to identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire;
“Currently as at 3.20pm Friday 30 November, a large fire is travelling in a westerly direction towards Broken River,” the latest advice reads. “It is expected to impact Broken River, Finch Hatton, Eungella and Dalrymple Heights. The fire is expected to have a life-threatening impact on the community.
“Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters are unable to prevent the fire advancing.
“The fire poses a threat to all lives directly in its path. Fire crews may not be able to protect your property.
“You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.
“People in the area will be affected by thick smoke and embers, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
“As the fire approaches, it will become difficult for you to see, hear and breathe. You will experience intense heat, darkness, and loud noise.
“For those residents who were planning on leaving Dalrymple Heights, stay at your property and seek shelter.
“For those residents who have left Dalrymple Heights and are headed to Eungella you must head back to your homes now and seek shelter as it is not safe to continue travelling.”
Enter the Guardians of Gracemere
How the fires unfolded yesterday
Incredible fire images from the air
Meanwhile authorities are warning Queenslanders to remain vigilant and that “anything can happen” as “very high” fire conditions continue. It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology says there is a moderate chance of a tropical cyclone forming off the state in coming days.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today said 114 fires were still burning across the state as of 9am, 70 of which were in central Queensland alone.
“We still have a very high fire danger and at any time can expect extreme conditions,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“What we are also seeing is that with the fire condition changes are happening earlier in the morning because of the dryness and because of the fuel that is on the ground.”
She told residents to be vigilant and that anything can happen.
David Grant, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said “elevated and very challenging fire conditions” would continue across Queensland in the next few days.
“This heat is going to continue and potentially spread into southeast Queensland,” he said.
He also spoke of a cyclone potentially forming off Queensland next week.
“There is a moderate chance of a tropical cyclone forming in the northern Coral Sea,” he said.
“(The system) is currently up near the Solomon Islands and is expected to move into the northern Coral Sea early next week, with a moderate chance of formation somewhere off the Queensland coast.”
While that might bring wet conditions authorities are warning there’s still a long way to go before the fire danger is over.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Katarina Carroll reiterated that extreme fire conditions were expected to continue, posing an ongoing challenge for emergency crews.
“Heatwave conditions will continue and, particularly in the next few days, extraordinarily dry conditions so we are seeing fires igniting constantly,” she said.
She said many staff were on a changeover day today and commended their efforts.
“They are exhausted and they are fatigued. They have done an amazing job.”
Thousands of firefighters remain on the ground battling blazes across central Queensland and the southeast.
While many fire warnings were downgraded overnight, conditions are again expected to worsen as temperatures rise throughout today.
Residents of Deepwater, Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek were again urged this morning to “leave now” as “an extremely large and intense fire is spreading in a south-easterly direction towards Lindy Drive, Emery Road and Coast Road”.
Fire warnings for many other regions were downgraded although a “prepare to leave” warning is in place for Broken River, Winfield, Captain Creek, Carmila, Kowari Gorge (encompassing Eungella) and Dalrymple Heights.
Firefighters spent last night backburning to build containment lines before the heat rises and wind likely picks up again in coming hours, which could again fan the flames and see the current fire warnings escalate.
Emergency services are still monitoring a number of fires of concern across the state, including at Tinnanbar near Hervey Bay, Deepwater, Stanwell and Stradbroke Island.
Gary McCormack, from the QFES, said the Tinnanbar fire was contained but that a lot of resources remained at the scene to strengthen containment lines.
Residents of Tinnanbar, between Rainbow Beach and Harvey Bay, were yesterday told to take shelter as the only access points were threatened by fire. Tinnanbar Road reopened last night.
Mr McCormack said the Deepwater fire remained a challenge, while the Stanwell fire, which impacted the community of Gracemere earlier in the week, had moderated. Crews remain on scene to strengthen containment lines.
He said several fires west of Mackay that had been referred to as the Finch Hatton fire, Dalrymple fire and the Eungella fire, had now joined together “and are a complex of one fire now”. He said fire crews “had a good position” on that fire this morning but there were still risks it would intensify.
Across the state, 37 local government areas are under total fire bans.
As of this morning 10 state schools remained closed, along with three early childhood education and care services.
Towns evacuated in recent days include Gracemere near Rockhampton, Sarina Beach and Campwin Beach near Mackay, Winfield near Baffle Creek, and Mount Larcom northwest of Gladstone. Most have since returned but fires can still be seen in surrounding areas.
OVERNIGHT: NOT THE TIME FOR COMPLACENCY
QUEENSLAND remains on high alert, as more than 120 blazes rage across vast areas of the state, threatening almost 20,000 people and 8000 homes.
Despite managing to save the town of Gracemere, near Rockhampton, authorities warn the danger is far from over as extreme heatwave conditions are expected well into next week.
Fresh evacuations were ordered yesterday as strengthening winds reignited fires in several central Queensland communities, although most residents have now returned.
Rockhampton, Mackay and Gladstone were declared disaster zones by the Federal Government.
“It’s not over yet,” state disaster co-ordinator and deputy police commissioner Bob Gee said.
Rockhampton Regional Council disaster management group chairman Tony Williams said authorities remained on high alert.
“We’re not out of the woods at this present stage,” Cr Williams said.
Firefighters have been sent in from NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday visited the fire-ravaged town of Kabra, west of Rockhampton, to thank firefighters. The town saw at least two homes lost and residents described seeing the fire “rip through” the town in minutes.
“We’re not out of this yet,” she said.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rick Threlfall said the hot and dry weather would continue to make conditions difficult for firefighters as the heatwave was not expected to break for days.
“We don’t see much relief in terms of temperatures until at least mid next week, so we’ve got quite a way to go,” he said.
“We’re generally looking at fairly similar conditions to what we’ve had with a lot of places in the mid to high 30s, so well above average.”
Mr Threlfall said inland areas would cop west south-westerly winds and low humidity levels. North-easterly sea breezes were expected to develop in the afternoons.
“That’s what makes firefighting difficult because the wind changes quite markedly through the day,” he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Queensland faced a tough summer, as he praised the “mates standing up for mates” attitude getting people through the bushfires.
There was bipartisan praise in parliament for the efforts of firefighters from across Australia.
“Everyone is lending a hand and they’re stepping up. Mates are helping mates,” Mr Morrison told parliament yesterday afternoon.
“They’re stepping up, they’re reaching out. They’re helping and comforting those in need. That’s the Australian way.”
He said Emergency Management Australia was preparing material to brief MPs about the summer ahead, including what role they could play to prepare the community for a variety of natural disasters.
“It may well be that more homes will come under threat, and we pray they will not be lost, that more hectares could be ravaged, and we pray that won’t happen,” he said.
“More lives could be affected, and we’ll pray and do everything we can within our power to ensure that does not occur.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said firefighters in the regions had displayed dedication and professionalism in keeping people safe.
“One of the reasons a major disaster was averted in Gracemere yesterday was because they used a fire simulation system designed and financed in Victoria after Black Saturday,” Mr Shorten said.
“It is proof that, whilst we never wish these disasters to happen, that Australians can learn from tragedies of the past, and we’re co-operating to make them happen in the future.”
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