Western Downs family, the Simpkins fight against fires to protect grazing land

A family forced to spend all night protecting their grazing paddock in the Western Downs from horror fires is preparing to do it all again tonight after already losing more than 100 acres of grass for their cattle. Full story.

The Simpkins family prepare for another night of battling fires that have already damaged more than 100 acres of their grazing land after dry lightning struck. Picture: Emily Devon

As harsh winds raged across the Simpkins family’s Western Downs paddocks on Friday afternoon, it was an ominous sign that they were in for another intense night of battling fires to save their livelihood.

The out-of-control bushfires - the worst seen in 40 years - had already infiltrated Brock and Robyn Simpkins’ property on Thursday night, reducing more than a hundred acres of prime grazing land to ash.

Neighbours, friends and firefighters united to help the Simpkins protect their property west of Lake Broadwater, about 20km outside Dalby and home to them and their three kids.

For 10 hours they fought galliant with water from their dam to keep the fires that threatened their livelihoods and home at bay.

The Simpkins family prepare for another night of battling fires that have already damaged more than 100 acres of their grazing land after dry lightning struck. Picture: Emily Devon

“There had been dry lightning strikes the night before that we’re sure started it but we never saw any smoke or really anything serious until (Thursday) morning,” Mr Simpkins said.

“It just would’ve warmed up and got a bit of wind in their sails, then it proceeded to burn the p-ss out of everything.”

By 3pm Thursday, Mrs Simpkins said she and her husband turned to each other and realised they were going to need more help with fighting the infernos.

“(Brock) was quite calm but I was definitely more scared,” she said.

The Simpkins family prepare for another night of battling fires that have already damaged more than 100 acres of their grazing land after dry lightning struck. Picture: Emily Devon

Once the fires settled, it became clear that 180 acres of grass which feeds more than 100 cattle had been obliterated.

“It torched all our grass,” Mr Simpkins said.

“We’ll have to give (cattle) supplementary feed just to maintain them,” he said.

“There’s no insurance for your grass burning out. We’ll have to dig deeper and deeper into the hip pocket to feed them, or sell them on a very very ordinary cattle market.

“It’s devastating really.”

The Simpkins family prepare for another night of battling fires that have already damaged more than 100 acres of their grazing land after dry lightning struck. Picture: Emily Devon

When asked if they were expecting the fires to reignite on Friday night, Mr Simpkins replied “Sh-t yeah”.

“And we’re running on only a couple of hours sleep after being up all night.”

While the loss of grazing land has been at the forefront of the family’s mind, Mr Simpkins said protecting their lives was their biggest concern.

“But we had to be smart about it,” he said.

“You can’t rebuild a life.”

The paddocks while they weren’t filled with flames, were being hit with strong winds that were already blowing smoke, dust and even small embers across the property.

The Simpkins family prepare for another night of battling fires that have already damaged more than 100 acres of their grazing land after dry lightning struck. Picture: Emily Devon

As Mrs Simpkins looked out at the wind and smoke swirling across their paddock she knew her family wasn’t out of the woods yet.

“I’m nervous,” she said.

“There’s just something in the air today - but we’re ready to do it all again.”

As the wind and smoke grew in force, Mr Simpkins rushed to the nearby dam and began filling trucks in preparation to face the return of the flames.

The devastating loss of grazing land comes after multiple dangerous and erratic fires swept the Western Downs over the last few days, claiming two lives, 16 homes and forcing hundreds of people to take up in evacuation centres.

Originally published as Western Downs family, the Simpkins fight against fires to protect grazing land