Western Downs fire warning: Residents in Wieambilla advised ‘prepare to leave’ by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Emergency services have warned Wieambilla residents they should prepare to evacuate their properties as bushfire spreads Friday afternoon.

A large scale effort is under way to contain two fast-moving grass fires west of Kogan. One is on Kogan Condamine Road, the other in in Wieambilla.

Emergency services have advised people in the Wieambilla area to prepare to leave their homes as a bushfire has spread after midday today.

Residents on properties between Orchard, Robbos, Wains, and Bennett School roads should begin to take protective measures now, according to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

The bushfire comes less than two weeks after fire crews were called to the same area to control a blaze that destroyed 1000 hectares of land, which authorities believed to have been intentionally lit.

Queensland Rural Fire Service Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said fires don’t just start on their own and advised residents to be proactive.

“Please be vigilant, if you are working around properties and you are using machinery that may cause sparks please have extinguishing methods with you so that you can put out fires when they start,” he said.

Access to QFES warnings and incidents.

If your life or property is threatened, call triple-0 (000).

Originally published as Western Downs fire warning: Residents in Wieambilla advised ‘prepare to leave’ by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services