Qld bushfires: Farmers use last of their water to fight fires

Drought-hit farmers on Queensland’s Granite Belt have been faced with the ultimate catch-22 as they defend their properties against raging bushfires.

IT IS THE ultimate catch-22: use the last of your water supply to save your house, or preserve it for the long summer ahead and watch everything you’ve ever worked for go up in flames.

That’s the scenario that farmers in Stanthorpe and Applethorpe faced last week as a 30m wall of flames bore down on their properties.

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“It’s a fine line – it’s a very difficult decision to make,” Applethorpe apple grower Anthony Giacosa said.

“But when there’s a fire, you need to use the water that’s available.”

Last Friday night at the Giacosa family’s orchard, the property had less than 20 per cent of its water left and cracks had begun to form on the banks of its dam as the region slowly crept out of one of its driest and warmest winters on record.

“The fire was moving very quickly, with the winds behind it. The embers were travelling about 600m to 800m in the wind, lighting up areas in front,” Mr Giacosa told The Courier-Mail.

“We just tried to stay around them and extinguish them as quick as we could.”

John and Angie Giacosa with dog Kara in their 10 per cent-capacity dam. Picture: Annette Dew

It was an evening the family won’t forget – the 12th birthday of Mr Giacosa and wife Evelyn’s daughter.

And as the children sat terrified inside, the adults used whatever water they had to extinguish the embers that had floated on to their property.

The blaze itself, which had already claimed one property, came less than 50 metres from their home.

Orchard owner John Giacosa estimates the farm has about 10 per cent of its water left for summer.

And Anthony believes if the region doesn’t get a serious downpour between now and Christmas, their business is in trouble.

Yet the family still offered what little water they had to firefighters, who spent the night going from property to property to save lives.

“Our water supply was already very depleted,” Anthony said.

“It’s looking very dire.”

Anthony and Evelyn Giacosa at their Applethorpe apple farm. Picture: Annette Dew

About 20 minutes south at Ballandean, farmer Tony Dachs said he hadn’t seen the region this dry in the 47 years he had lived there.

“I’ve got no water. The dam is empty. I’ve got a little bit left in my house tank but that’s about it.”

But despite critical water restrictions that have seen some go without a shower for days on end, Mr Dachs has kept his sense of humour.

“I’m one of the lucky few – I live on my own ... if I don’t have a shower for a week, I only have to put up with myself,” he said.

“There is one blessing in disguise – that it happened at this time of year and not in the middle of summer.”

Regardless of the timing of the bushfires, residents know they have a very long summer ahead.

And without rain, there is no chance of the water restrictions being lifted.

“It’s the driest I’ve seen it in my lifetime,” Mr Dachs said.

“There’s no end in sight, that’s the thing. They’re saying it will be 2023 before this drought breaks. It’s not going to be good.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services policy is to replace the water.

“Any private water supply used for domestic and livestock purposes that is taken by QFES to fight bushfires will be replaced as soon as possible and at no cost to the landholder,” a spokesman said.

“QFES encourages landholders seeking more information about this policy or wishing to discuss their specific circumstances to contact their local QFES area office.”

The Southern Downs Regional Council has temporarily lifted the 100-litre per person water restriction for bushfire-affected residents and businesses in the Stanthorpe area.

The water restriction has been in place since September 1 and will be reinstated on September 18 at 5pm.