Bruce Highway reopens, as fireys continue to tackle bushfire south of Townsville

Multiple firefighting crews have defended properties in the path of a massive vegetation blaze that has severed the Bruce Highway and burnt towards the Townsville jail and dump. See the gallery.

Multiple firefighting crews have desperately defended properties in the path of a massive vegetation blaze which severed the Bruce Highway and burnt towards the Stuart Dump and the Townsville Correctional Centre.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said a vegetation fire was reported to be burning near the Bruce Highway and the Lowe Rd, Julago, on Wednesday at 12.56pm.

It was described as being 200m wide and burning north at 1.25pm, heading towards the Stuart Dump before jumping the Bruce Highway and burning towards the Townsville Correctional Centre.

Smoke trails through the air near where the Bruce Highway has been split in two by a fire.

Due to the impact of smoke and as a safety precaution, QFD asked the police to close the Bruce Highway to traffic in both directions at 1.40pm, with the rail corridor subsequently closed at 2.45pm.

Eight QFD crews worked to defend houses, sheds, government owned land and buildings.

A request was made for a Townsville City Council water tanker and heavy machinery to cut fire breaks, but water bombers weren’t called in.

Fire crews battle a massive vegetation fire near the Bruce Highway at Julago, south of Townsville on October 16, 2024.

The Bruce Highway reopened in both directions just after 4pm, with traffic moving slowly.

Shortly after, Ergon Energy Network posted to social media saying they had to turn power off to customers in Alligator Creek due to the bushfire sending flames into their wires.

Ergon had safely restored power to all customers by 5pm.

“At this stage our crews have found no damage to poles and wires,” Ergon said.
“We are continuing to check the condition of electrical assets in the area and working closely with fire crews.”

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Rural Fire fighters from Nome. Picture: Evan Morgan

QFD confirmed that the fire on the eastern side of Bruce Highway was extinguished at 5pm.

It remains unclear what the status was for the fire burning on the western side, with three Rural Fire Service crews and one Fire and Rescue crew still in action at 5.30pm.

They are back burning and inspecting structures in the area for fire damage.

Queensland Rail inspectors are on-site checking the corridor in advance of its reopening.

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Julago bushfire cut the Bruce Highway on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Daneka Hill.

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Rural Fire fighters from Nome. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Rural Fire fighters from Nome. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Rural Fire fighters from Nome. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Picture: Evan Morgan

Scrub fire at Julago, just south of Townsville, causes delays to traffic on Bruce Highway. Rural Fire fighters from Nome. Picture: Evan Morgan

Originally published as Bruce Highway reopens, as fireys continue to tackle bushfire south of Townsville