Queensland Fire Department issues precautionary ban as dry conditions loom across southwest

A three-day total fire ban has been issued across South West Queensland as Queensland Fire Department urges residents to be prepared after a number of hazard reduction burns became out of control at the weekend.

Queensland Fire Department has issued a total fire ban across the South West over the coming days.

Dry weather across South West Queensland has resulted in fire authorities issuing a total fire ban over the coming days.

Queensland Fire Department has imposed the ban as of Monday, September 23 to midnight on Wednesday, September 25.

The fire ban extends to residents in the Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa, Balonne, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Bulloo regions.

It comes as dry conditions increase across the South West, with both rural and urban firefighters recently called to a number of out of control grass fires.

It’s understood those escaped fires were from hazard reduction burns by private landholders.

Rural Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Matthew Inwood urged residents to take the ban as a bushfire preparation message.

“It’s really important for the community to take this as a preparation message and really make sure they do have water available on their properties, they have time to prepare the property and they have good access to their properties,” he said.

“Should fire happen to break out on your property it’s really important that we’re able to get fire appliances in there very quickly to assist.”

Rural Fire Service South Western region Deputy Chief Officer Matthew Inwood talks local fire ban on Monday, September 23, 2024. Photo: Jessica Klein

Mr Inwood said residents should be cautious in ensuring they have a bushfire survival plan and have discussed it with family and friends or anyone visiting the property.

Further preparations include cleaning up around the property, making sure any combustibles are well away from the house, ensuring gutters are clean and any water pumps or taps are in good working order.

“It’s important particularly for rural residents to make sure they have adequate fire protection available,” Deputy Chief Officer Inwood said.

“We had an example on Sunday afternoon of a fire taking off very quickly in grass country, which was a result of a slasher that hit on a bit of metal or a rock in the paddock.

“Very quickly that developed into a very significant fire and that’s testament to just how dry conditions are in that grassy type country and how quickly a fire can take hold.”

The three day ban will see all fire permits for the purpose of hazard reduction suspended across the South West.

Deputy Chief Officer Inwood said the fire ban would be reviewed daily to account for any change in conditions, however is not likely to be extended at this stage.