Emergency order revoked, homes destroyed at Innot Hot Springs
Police have revoked the PSPA declared in the Innot Hot Springs area. A number of properties were destroyed by fire and one person received medical attention for smoke inhalation. FREE TO READ:
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Police have revoked the PSPA declared in the Innot Hot Springs area on Thursday afternoon.
The PSPA was declared shortly after 1.30pm due to a fire burning in the area.
The PSPA was revoked at 5.45pm, with the Kennedy Highway also reopening.
A number of properties were destroyed as a result of the fire and one person received medical attention for smoke inhalation.
Earlier police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act in relation to a bushfire burning in the Innot Hot Springs area.
Officers are on scene at the fire, where an emergency situation has been declared between the Kennedy Highway, Silver Valley Road and Uramo Road and bordered by bushland.
It includes the township of Innot Hot Springs, with specific focus on Broken Gully Road, Brodie Road, Herbert River Road, Rienecker Road.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Innot Hot Springs - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 4:08pm Thursday, 2 November 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 2, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/db0pxahDfh
Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.
Traffic diversions are in place.
One lane of the Kennedy Highway at Innot Hot Springs is open under police escort only. Delays are expected.
Earlier, a fast moving fire tearing through the Watsonville and Herberton areas was downgraded on Thursday and on Wednesday afternoon one house in the Watsonvile area on Sandridge Rd and one house on Silver Valley Rd were destroyed by fire.
A leave immediately warning was issued by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at 4pm for properties on Herbert River Road, Brodie Road, Rienecker Road and Petersen Road.
The fast-moving fire is burning near Herbert River Road and was expected to impact Innot Hot Springs very soon.
Another emergency alert was issued for Jumna Dam and All Nations Mine in the Irvinebank area urging residents to leave immediately at 2.25pm.
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Innot Hot Springs - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 2:43pm Thursday, 2 November 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 2, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/VuTseZxpMq
The fast-moving fire is burning near Herberton Petford Road, Bakersville and is expected to impact Jumna Dam within the coming hours, according to QFES.
An emergency notice early on Thursday was downgraded to “stay informed” advice level in the Watsonville area however major roads or highways may be impacted, including Herberton Petford Road at Watsonville.
Residents living in Herberton, Silver Valley and surrounding areas have also been advised to be on alert.
On Wednesday afternoon Tablelands Regional Council opened evacuation centres at the after QFES issued leave immediately emergency warnings, however by 8pm the centres were closed and residents were advised it was safe to return home.
There are now two new evacuation centres open for members of the community who have no other shelter at the Ravenshoe Community Centre and the Mount Garnet Town Hall.
AVOID SMOKE - Innot Hot Springs (near Ravenshoe) - fire as at 5:41am Thursday, 2 November 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 1, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/5Cf9m5XUAl
EARLIER
Watsonville residents were on Wednesday issued with a leave immediately warning as a fast moving blaze bears down on properties.
The alert issued by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at 11.30am advised residents in the warning area to “leave immediately, your life could be at risk and it will soon be too dangerous to drive”.
At 3.08pm a new emergency warning was issued in relation to a fast-moving fire is burning along Silver Valley Road.
Residents have been ordered to leave immediately.
A fast-moving fire is burning along Silver Valley Road. At 3pm it was expected to impact Clark Road within the next hour.
Earlier the northern fire front is threatening properties between Herberton Petford Rd, Sandridge Rd, Walsh River Rd and Bishoff Mill Rd including Shiffron Road and Eichblatt Rd.
The eastern front has steadily advancing toward the Atherton Tablelands town of Herberton and is now burning through the Anniversary Falls area about 1km from houses.
Rural fire volunteers and QFES firies have thrown everything at the fire, including water bombing helicopters that worked through the night in efforts to halt the advance of the front that has been fanned by strong winds exceeding 40km/h.
The fast-moving fire is now burning near the Walsh River. It is expected to impact West Bischoff Mill Road very soon.
With crews on the ground frantically fighting to save homes it was difficult to get regular situation updates, but QFES director of regional operations Adam Gwin said there was “soft evidence” that buildings had been destroyed by fire on Wednesday.
“There may have been some impact to structures,” he said.
For the past three weeks, fires threatening property at Millstream, Innot Hot Springs, Mareeba, Cooktown, Mutchilba and now Herberton have stretched resources to the limit.
Mr Gwin said while local brigades usually only tackle fires in their immediate area, there were full time permanent firefighters attached to the rural fire service who have spent long periods away from home moving between blazes.
“Our concern now is fatigue management and heat management are probably the two biggest onsets we are working hard to manage,” he said.
“We have assistance coming from other parts of Queensland and a strike team has arrived in Cairns (on Wednesday) and will be on the fire line tomorrow.
“But we are not out of the woods yet and we would expect another few weeks of fire activity and until we get significant rainfall we are not in any comfort zone.”
A volunteer firefighter speaking from the Watsonville front said people had been told to “get the hell out” before it was too late.
“We have 24 units and every possible resource, bulldozers and the whole kit and caboodle,” he said.
“It’s probably about 40 km/hand the fire is creating its own weather right now.
“People are coming to us and asking what to do, people are listening to us because they know how serious it is.”
In Herberton Australian Hotel worker and auxiliary firefighter Gareth Norman said he was in communication with his local fire captain Damian Irwin and was ready to defend the town if needed.
He said smoke can be clearly seen on the mountains on the western side of the town.
“There was an evacuation warning but people have been told to have an escape plan ready and be prepared for when the s**t hits the fan,” he said.
“I believe people are concerned but they are not panicking but they are wary.
“The firies don’t want people to panic unless there need to be a panic but people need to be aware of the seriousness of it but there has not been a town meeting yet.”
A QFES warning at advice level has been issued for Herberton properties between Broadway Road, Elwyn Phillips Memorial Drive and Moffat Street West, including Creek Street and Elizabeth Street.
Smoke warnings have also been issued for the nearby Silver Valley.
With flames licking peaks within 1km of the Herberton Hospital, Mr Gwin said there was initially concern about the safety of the building, but the structure, almost totally surrounded by bush, was now secure.
Looking ahead, Mr Gwin said what the fire does on Thursday would be greatly dependent on the weather and the level of fire suppression that can be achieved into the night.
“The bureau has predicted a cooler change to come through and we are working on the theory that weather will be more conducive to firefighting,” he said.
WARNING AREA
Properties at Jumna Dam and All Nations Mine in Irvinebank.
Properties on Herbert River Road, Brodie Road, Rienecker Road and Petersen Road
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
- Leave immediately and follow your bushfire survival plan now.
- Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.
- If your life is in danger, call triple-0 (000) immediately.
- Avoid driving on the Kennedy Highway it is closed at Innot Hot Springs.
– Go to a place away from the Emergency Warning area. Plan how you will get there. Tell others where you are going.
– Check for road closures before you leave at the QLD Traffic website or call 13 19 40.
– Wear protective clothing and stay hydrated.
– Keep medications close by.
– Stay informed:
– Keep checking the QFES Current Bushfires and Warnings website
– Follow QFES on Facebook and Twitter
– Listen to your local radio station
– Do not fly drones around the fire. Drones affect air operations.
Impacts
- Properties are being impacted now.
- Firefighters may not be able to stop the fire from getting closer. Do not expect a firefighter at your door.
- Power, water, and mobile phone services may stop working soon.
- Smoke will make it hard to see and breathe. The smoke will sting your eyes.
- It will be hot and loud. You may hear explosions nearby.
- The sky will be dark.
- You could be isolated.
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