Stark bushfire warning issued for Queensland residents
Firefighters are telling residents of a regional Aussie town to flee as a dangerous fire threatens homes.
Residents of a small community in southern Queensland are being asked to “leave immediately” as a dangerous bushfire creeps through the area.
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service released an emergency broadcast on Sunday morning for southeast Queensland town of The Pines near Millmerran in the Southern Downs region.
“Leave immediately,” QFES states bluntly in a warning.
“Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.”
“If you do not have a safe place to go to, there is a place of refuge at Wylahra Grove Progress Recreation Hall at 72 Primrose Drive Millmerran Downs.”
As of Sunday afternoon, 26 crews are working to protect homes along Rosella Ave and Flamingo Rd to The Pines’ southwest.
The bushfire currently threatens properties between Flamingo Road, Rosella Avenue, Scrubby Creek Boondanilla Rd to the Gore Highway.
Firefighters are battling the blaze west of Toowoomba with the help of five firefighting aircraft, alongside a strike team assisting from Victoria.
The warning paints a bleak picture of the threat to residents from the fire.
“Firefighters may not be able to stop the fire from getting closer,” the warning states.
“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.”
According to QFES the fire was first reported at 7:15pm on Saturday night as a vegetation fire near Condamine Farms.
Residents were forced to evacuate after emergency services issued a warning to “leave immediately” shortly before midnight.
Overnight there were no reports of damage to structures, however the fire remains close to properties.
An avoid smoke warning is also in place for Tuchekoi, Kandanga, Imbil, Carters Ridge, Federal and surrounding areas from a fire burning in Mount Tuchekoi.
No properties are currently at risk, but QFES advises affected residents to “stay inside and close windows and doors”.
“Keep respiratory medication close by. Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a bushfire survival plan, make one on the QFES website.
“Avoid driving through smoke if you can. Watch out for firefighters working in the area.”
Multiple fires are now burning across the Southern Downs region as the country braces for a potentially dire fire season.
Widely-respected NSW firefighter Captain Leonardus Fransen tragically died on Thursday while battling a blaze in the state’s north, close to the Queensland border.
Captain Fransen was struck by a falling tree while he was fighting the Hudson bushfire.
Multiple warnings to “watch and act” were issued for the Cairns area on Sunday as a slow-moving bushfire is burning near Hidzic Rd in Mona Mona.
The incident comes after a heatwave warning was issued for parts of northern Queensland with temperatures predicted to reach the mid to high thirties before easing mid next week, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
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