Julago, Nome bushfire downgraded to ‘stay informed’

Authorities have issued a fresh bushfire warning for a blaze south of Townsville as a second one burns. Read the latest.

Residents of Serene Court, Julago and Elliot Springs who were told to prepare to leave on Tuesday morning say they are calm, as firefighters have the fire which was on a hill above their homes under control.

The wind is blowing across the fire towards an area of bush which has already been burnt. Many Nome residents have come home from work to check their properties.

A Rural Fire Service volunteer on the ground said the fire that was of concern to Elliot Springs and Nome residents was well in hand.

The firefighters’ next focus is digging fire breaks over on the northeastern side of the fire. Contractors on excavators worked long into the night and were back at first light on Tuesday, and this afternoon they will dig large firebreaks behind properties on Bentley Drive, Nome.

Earlier Tuesday morning the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services upgraded the Julago and Nome fire to “prepare to leave” and described it as is “fast-moving”.

A man watches helicopters fight a bushfire, from the intersection of Bruce Highway and Bentley Drive in Nome. Picture: Blair Jackson

It has since been downgraded to “stay informed”.

Properties along Ossington Circuit in Julago and Serene Court are listed as warning areas.

QFES has warned that “conditions could get worse quickly”.

Crews are working to contain the fire with aircraft and a bulldozer assisting.

There are currently no properties at risk, however smoke could be making it difficult to breathe.

The current warning impacts properties between Elliot Springs, Bently Drive in Nome and Lowe Rd and Stuart.

Fire, smoke and water-carrying helicopters as seen from a property at Serene Court, Nome, about 10 minutes after a prepare to leave emergency text message went out to all phones in the area. Picture: Blair Jackson

Road may be closed or impacted, power water and mobile phone services may also be impacted if the fire gets closer.

Fire, smoke and water-carrying helicopters as seen from a property at Serene Court, Nome, about 10 minutes after a prepare to leave emergency text message went out to all phones in the area. Picture: Blair Jackson

What you should do:

– Stay informed because conditions could change:

– Follow QFES on Facebook and Twitter.

– Listen to your local radio station.

– Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.

– Decide what you will do if the bushfire gets closer.

– Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a bushfire survival plan. Make one on the QFES website.

– Decide where you and the people you live with will go. This could be with family or a friend away from the fire.

– Keep medications close by.

– Avoid smoke – stay indoors, close windows and doors, and avoid driving through smoke.

– Watch out for firefighters working in the area.

– Do not fly drones around the fire. Drones affect air operations.

– If your life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

There is another fire burning near Yabulu.

Residents of Yabulu, Purono Park, Bluewater, Saunders Beach and surrounding areas have been advised to avoid smoke by staying inside with windows and doors closed, and keep respiratory medicine close by.

A warning that has been issued for Oak Valley has now been revoked.

Residents near Yabulu in Townsville are cautioned to be wary of smoke from a bushfire.

Fire declared suspicious

A fire coming dangerously close to Julago homes for over 24 hours is being treated as ‘suspicious’, as firefighters battle to bring multiple fronts under control.

Rural Fire Service incident controller Jim Besgrove said the fire on top of ranges at Nome was moving toward Elliot Springs.

“It will keep working down the hill.”

Two helicopters and a plane have been dumping water on the fire all day Monday, but had to come down for the night at 5pm because of low light.

RFS members were door knocking residents of new suburb Elliot Springs on Monday afternoon.

“Don’t be concerned, we’re well and truly on it but we want people to be aware. If someone’s asthmatic tomorrow wouldn’t be a good day to be at home unless they’re inside,” Mr Besgrove advised residents of the area.

“It’s not as bad at the present as it was at this time yesterday afternoon,” he said about 4pm Monday.

A helicopter which carries 800L of water flies overhead as a larger 2000L helicopter is refuelled on Monday. Picture: Blair Jackson

However, there is bush land between the fire and Elliot Springs. If the fire got to that bush there would be the threat of embers, Mr Besgrove said.

A bulldozer worked through the night Monday into Tuesday digging a large firebreak along Paul James Drive – which is on the opposite, northeast side of the fire to Elliot Springs – towards the highway, Mr Besgrove said.

The fire has been burning for almost two days.

About 4pm on Sunday, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services put out the prepare to leave warning for the Julago roads of Dawn Street, Sunnyside Street and Coast Road.

The warning has since been downgraded from ‘prepare to leave’ to ‘stay informed, for residents of Julago, Nome, Elliot Springs and Serene Valley, then ‘

Rural Fire Service incident controller Jim Besgrove said helicopters carrying water would drop 2800 litres of water every few minutes as they attempt to kill the flames.

“This is a suspicious fire, because of where it started and how it started. Someone would have lit it up, the fire has started up in a number of places and immediately put properties under threat,” Mr Besgrove said.

The fire began in a section of public land near Oolbun and then jumped across Paul James Drive, he said.

Bushfire burning in Julago, south of Townsville, on September 17, 2023. Picture: Blair Jackson

There were about 26 firefighters on the ground at Julago and Oak Valley on Monday morning, and extra firefighters were expected to arrive from Cairns Tuesday, he said.

“Resources are stretched across the state. And the irony is it’s only the beginning of fire season.”

Nome man Mick Jonsson said he sleeps easier knowing North Queensland firefighters are quick to act.

Winds were forecast to pick up this afternoon and the humidity was predicted to come, Mr Besgrove said.

“It won’t be out today.”

A fuel truck has been parked near the edge of the affected area to speed up refuelling of the helicopters.

Mick Jonsson arrived home from working out west on Saturday to scores of firefighters buzzing around he and his neighbours properties at Nome.

Nome man Mick Jonsson arrived home on Saturday after fire fighters had back burnt Sun Metals’ land, which borders his property.

Mr Jonsson’s property backs onto Sun Metals’ land and the refinery company’s buffer zone.

Firefighters had back-burnt right from Mr Jonsson’s back fence towards the bushfire which was bearing down towards the flat, dry and vulnerable Bentley Park estate.

“The speed it was going it could have jumped my fire break,” he said.

“We’re lucky there wasn’t that much feed around. Sometimes you go a few years without a fire and that’s when I get a bit panicky. It’s so bloody dry now.”

The road leading to a property on Mount Matthew.

Mr Jonsson wanted to personally thank the firefighters, in particular the volunteers of the Rural Fire Service.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the fireys for doing their shit. It’s peace of mind knowing they’re around.”

Mr Jonsson understood the fire started on the public access tidal flats northeast of Oolbun and the Cleveland Palms Private Estate.

Rubbish would often gather on grassy knolls on the flats, and the combination of extreme heat at the moment and glass could easily start a fire, he said.

Originally published as Julago, Nome bushfire downgraded to ‘stay informed’