‘Prepare to leave’: Warning as fire threatens homes in Qld’s far north

Residents have been warned that conditions could “get worse quickly” and to enact bushfire survival plans, as homes are at risk.

Residents have been told to prepare to leave as a fire threatens properties in Queensland’s far north, with total fire bans also in place across the state’s south.

A prepare-to-leave warning remains in place for Lakeland – southwest of Cooktown in Queensland – as of about 8am Monday, with some properties at risk.

“A large, fast-moving fire is burning along the Mulligan Highway. It is travelling towards Peninsula Developmental Road,” the warning states.

“Conditions could get worse quickly. Firefighters are working to contain the fire. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.

“If your life is in danger, call triple-0 (000) immediately.”

Properties are at risk as a result of the fire. Picture: Queensland Fire Department

The fire is “likely to impact the community in the coming hours”, with residents urged to enact bushfire survival plans, charge mobile devices, and prepare to take pets with them.

Residents have also been urged to avoid driving on the Mulligan Highway, with more information available on the Queensland Fire Department website.

High fire danger ratings have been issued across the Gulf Country, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, North West and Channel Country on Monday.

Fire bans are also in place across Maranoa Regional, Toowoomba Regional, Balonne Shire, Paroo Shire, Bulloo Shire, Southern Downs Regional, Western Downs Regional, Goondiwindi Regional, Quilpie Shire, and Murweh Shire council areas until 11.59pm on September 25.

A hazard reduction burn got out of control in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Sunday. Picture: Nine

The fire is now ‘contained’. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

It follows a fire in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Sunday, with firefighters still working to extinguish the blaze as of Monday morning.

NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd told the ABC that the Meatworks Ave fire in Oxford Falls, which broke out after a hazard reduction burn got out of control, was “contained”.

“Primarily, the fire is contained. There’s still a small section towards Oxford Falls that firefighters will need to work on today, and hopefully then this afternoon we’ll really be on the mopping up and we’ll do that over the coming days,” Inspector Shepherd said.

Inspector Shepherd also said the area hadn’t been burned in three decades.

“This area up on Red Hill hasn’t burned since 1994 … there have been areas around this actual burn that were treated, this main part was not treated since 1994,” he said.

“(The) whole area has been treated and they’ll have protection, not just this fire season but for fire seasons to come.

“This wasn’t the intent of the burn at the time. We are glad we got it in, but we never wanted to see this amount of escalation on that fire ground.”

The Rural Fire Service warned that smoke could linger around the city on Monday.