Queensland bushfires worsen, Ravensbourne residents evacuated

Warm temperatures, strong winds and dry air intensify conditions as one of Qld’s largest bushfires closes in.

Bushfire crossing Mount Jockey Road in Ravensbourne Picture: News Corp

An evacuation has been ordered for the Queensland town of Ravensbourne, north of Toowoomba, as one of the state’s largest bushfires closes in.

Emergency services issued the warning at 2:30pm local time and told residents to leave now before conditions deteriorate further.

LEAVE IMMEDIATELY: Ravensbourne (part of Pechey fire) bushfire as at 2.45pm Sun 17 Nov: https://t.co/5OsPhEU7yj

— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 17, 2019

Firefighters on the ground of the Ravensbourne/ Pechey fire have been dealing with the combination of warm temperatures, strong winds and dry air, which has intensified the extreme conditions warned for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt region, west of Brisbane, by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Speaking earlier today, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pleaded that people follow the direction of emergency services.

“If you are asked to leave, you must do so,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“There is so much time being taken up by our police with people who do not want to leave. This is absolutely fundamental and I need you to listen to authorities. If you are asked to leave, do not argue, please leave. Human life is paramount.”

Earlier today, an aerial tanker was brought into preemptively drop fire retardant ahead of the Ravensbourne/ Pechey fire to slow its movement through the region.

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None of the 82 fires burning across the state are currently at an emergency warning level.

Storms passed through the southeast coastal region of the state this afternoon, bringing 39mm of rain to the Sunshine Coast and significant amounts of large hail. Lightning was recorded in the vicinity of the Moreton Island fire.

Early afternoon hail storms lashed South East Queensland Picture: Supplied to ABC Sunshine Coast

Further storms are expected this afternoon, said senior BOM forecast Jess Gardner.

“Today will be challenging for people of the ground. We are not expecting significant widespread falls and places where there is not much rain, there is a chance of dry lightning,” Ms Gardner said.

“There’s a chance of severe storms around the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay region. Also down towards Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We Are warning of damaging winds and large hail which will make conditions to fight fires pretty difficult.”

A fire at Moreton Island is causing havoc for emergency crews off the Redcliff Coast. Residents and vacationers at the beach township of Cowan Cowan were warned to leave last night. The warning has since been downgraded.

Ms Gardner said conditions should improve tomorrow as a cool change causes temperatures to fall. But the reprieve will be short lived, as conditions worsen again on Wednesday.