Queensland Fires and Emergency Services extend local fire ban for southwest as conditions offer no reprieve

With weather conditions for the week ahead not predicted to bring any relief for the dedicated fire crews and volunteers around the southwest, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have extended the local fire ban. Full update here.

It’s been a harrowing week for residents of southwest Queensland as thousands of acres have burnt across the region, with conditions not likely to ease.

The New England Highway north of Allora was forced to temporarily close last week as crews worked tirelessly to contain multiple small bushfires in the nearby area.

Prepare to leave warnings were issued to the neighbouring communities of Hendon, Deuchar, Upper Wheatvale and Bony Mountain earlier in the week.

An onlooker caught the sight of a QFES water bombing aircraft quickly refilling from a nearby dam on Toowoomba-Karara Rd over the weekend, as fires continued to rage on in the nearby area.

Rural Fire Service south western regional manager Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said more than 11,000ha had been destroyed at Tara on the Western Downs during a press conference on Thursday.

Superintendent Waltisbuhl said crews are bracing for more fires as weather conditions will see no reprieve next week.

“We don’t see any reprieve in the weather at all and in fact, next Tuesday we’ll see another huge impact of fire weather that will put more of an impact on the current fires or even those we’re trying to get contained,” he said.

Sadly, more than just land has been lost on the Western Downs, with homes destroyed and two confirmed deaths as a result of multiple blazes that burned through the region.

Fire damage near Tara. Picture: Liam Kidston

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman confirmed 3000ha had been destroyed as a result of fires that burned through Millmerran Woods and surrounding areas which saw one home go up in flames.

Aratula Rural Fire Brigade assisted with managing a major fire at Cypress Gardens, south of Millmerran. Picture: Facebook

QFES have since announced they’ve extended the existing fire ban in place for the southwest region until midnight Friday, November 3.