’We were extremely lucky’: Homes saved by quick QFD response

Firefighters have thrown everything at a blaze that earlier today posed a serious threat to homes on the northern outskirts of Mareeba.

The fire has now been brought under control. Picture: Supplied

Firefighters have thrown everything at a blaze that earlier today posed a serious threat to homes on the northern outskirts of Mareeba.

At 11.48am Queensland Fire Department downgraded warnings to an advice level after an earlier prepare to leave alert at 10.33am.

A fire of unknown origin was burning near Blacks Rd and heading in a westerly direction toward McGrath Rd.

But a quick dispatch of a water bombing helicopter and firefighting trucks attached to both the Rural Fire Service Queensland and QFD have now got the blaze under control and contained to a single paddock.

The fire had now been downgraded to an advice level. Picture: Supplied

Mareeba-based assistant chief officer for the Savannah District Rural Fire Service Clint Tunnie said the fire being close to town helped with equipment availability and response times.

“We were extremely lucky that we were able to respond to the fire quickly and had an aircraft to assist,” he said.

“It did have the potential to threaten homes and the crews have done a fantastic job to get under control.

STAY INFORMED - Mareeba - fire as at 11:48am Tuesday, 24 September 2024
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/CMqxEjaVXapic.twitter.com/jDgO5XaMMB

— Queensland Fire Department (@QldFireDept) September 24, 2024

“Within 30 minutes we were able to get it under control and the fire was contained to a single paddock.

“We are investigating how the fire started and we will monitor and keep a presence there until we are sure the fire has been completely blacked out.”

Looking ahead Mr Tunnie said heavy and dry fuel loads on the ground could mean a “very dangerous” fire season.

“We are asking people to be very mindful and remain vigilant in terms of fire,” he said.

“We are making sure communities are prepared and we can build some resilience there.

“We have seen some curing of grass and we are seeing higher than average fuel loads through a lot of the district and that is conducive to having a very dangerous fire season.”

A helicopter was called in to fight a scrub fire at Blacks Rd north of Mareeba. Picture: Supplied

Earlier on Monday a huge response to a fast-moving bushfire bearing down on the Cape York community of Lakeland safeguarded homes.

Burning for a week, the fire fanned by westerly winds began to cause serious concerns for the township of Lakeland and on Sunday night Queensland Fire Department issued a prepare to leave notice.

The Lakeland and Palmer fire has now been downgraded and on Tuesday no properties were at risk.

But on Monday afternoon a total of 17 vehicles were at the fire front, 150km northwest of Cairns, on the southern outskirts of Lakeland and a Nautilus Aviation helicopter equipped for waterbombing work was at the ready if needed.

The QFD at 1pm on Monday downgraded the warning level to “watch and act” as crews successfully worked to keep the fire burning within containment lines created with earthmoving equipment.

PREPARE TO LEAVE - Lakeland - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 1:09pm Monday, 23 September 2024
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/CMqxEjaVXapic.twitter.com/qObr449J8T

— Queensland Fire Department (@QldFireDept) September 23, 2024

Mareeba-based assistant chief officer for the Savannah District Rural Fire Service Clint Tunnie said he was confident the fire was now under control.

“We have sufficient break lines in there at the moment, so I’m confident we can hold the fire,” he said.

“We have quite a bit of machinery that are fortifying our containment lines and we have water bombers if they are required.

“We have a lot of firefighters on the ground and we don’t need people to get stressed out.”

The mood of the community was one of composed awareness and though only about 2km from the northern flank of the fire, worker at the Lakeland Roadhouse Tammy Teys was unfazed.

“I think we are pretty right,” she said.

“They have got everything under control and they have been working through the night.”

The 1pm update from QFD did state “some properties are at risk” and “the fire is likely to impact the community in the coming hours”.

Burning on a 5km front between The Brothers and just south of the Lakeland Solar Farm, the fire on Monday afternoon appeared to be moving in a westerly direction originating from the eastern side of the Mulligan Highway.

Mr Tunnie said the situation was still being assessed in terms of damage but as of the last report on Monday afternoon, no homes or sheds had been destroyed.

“But there have been reports of machinery loss,” he said.

“All stakeholders are engaged and are talking to us and what people need to understand is the RFS is made up of community members and we have brought in additional resources to support them.

“We ask people to take heed of Queensland Fire Department information and locals just following the advice and people should be fine.”

QFD has been joined by Rural Fire Service Queensland units, Cook Shire Council staff, the SES, local property owners and Queensland Parks and Wildlife workers at the fire front.

“I’m confident the immediate risk has been dealt with,” Mr Tunnie said.

“Overnight with prevailing conditions we normally see a dropping off of fire action and potentially we can hand it over to the local rural fire brigades tomorrow.”

Residents are urged to follow their bushfire survival plan and prepare to leave.

If your life is in danger, call triple-0 immediately.

Originally published as ’We were extremely lucky’: Homes saved by quick QFD response