Western Downs fire damage victims wish for wet weather after extreme fire day early in the week

More than 100 firefighters, trucks and aircrafts are battling a Tara blaze currently as emergency crews try and get through unscathed on what’s been classed an ‘extreme’ high fire day. Here’s what’s expected for the rest of the week.

Hundreds of Western Downs residents are still grappling with the loss of homes and living in evacuation centres as more property owners in the Tara area are advised to leave immediately.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advised Tuesday morning that there was a large fire burning near Golden Glow Rd just before 11am and was expected to impact Bennet School Rd, an area that was in the firing line last week.

It was reported that 115 firefighters are battling the blaze and 28 trucks are on the ground also supported by heavy machinery and several aircraft.

Just before 9am multiple emergency warnings were issued for Tara, Montrose North, Wieambilla and The Gums as the ‘extreme’ fire danger day continued.

Fire crews from across Queensland were deployed to the area this week as the region was predicted to reach a high of 40 degrees today and experience strong winds.

Aerial waterbomber over the Tara fires. Picture: Liam Kidston

Weather bureau community information officer Daniel Hayes said the fire danger ratings were expected to drop off after today.

“It continues to be high into tomorrow and then moderate from Thursday and Friday,” he said.

“Temperatures will drop back quite significantly to 32 degrees which is the forecast for Dalby tomorrow and 29 degrees on Thursday.

“The winds stay fairly breezy tomorrow but it’ll start to ease a little bit after that.”

Western Downs man landowner Brock Simpkins who spent 10 hours last week battling a blaze that threatened his Ducklo home and destroyed 180 acres of grazing land said they were hoping for rainfall.

“We’re very lucky not to have more fire get on our country,” he said.

“Now we need some rain.

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

“Rain will do good on the burnt country to get the grasses up and growing, having said that we would need 25-40mm of rain to grow any substantial amount of feed.”

Mr Hayes said a broad part of the state was predicted to experience showers this weekend, however the chances for the Western Downs are slim.

“We do see the increase (in chance of rain), looking at Miles we’re looking at 30 per cent on Friday, 40 per cent on Saturday and 20 per cent Sunday and Monday,” he said.

“Dalby is similar, it runs 20 per cent through until Thursday then jumps to 30 per cent on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and into Monday.

“We probably will see some showers but it will be hit and miss for any one locality and numbers will be a bit lower.”

Originally published as Western Downs fire damage victims wish for wet weather after extreme fire day early in the week