Qld weather: Body found, homes destroyed as bushfires rage across Queensland

A body has been found on the ground where a bushfire is burning in Queensland’s Western Downs. At least five homes have been destroyed as more than 40 fires burn across the state.

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A body has been found on the fireground where a bushfire is burning on Queensland’s Western Downs.

Emergency services were on the scene at Chinchilla-Tara Rd where a person was found dead shortly before 8pm on Tuesday.

The person’s age and gender were not known.

“This is an emerging situation and investigations are ongoing,” police said in a statement.

“Police will prepare a report for the coroner.”

It comes as more than 40 fires rage across the state, with at least five homes destroyed and 10 more at risk.

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A resident in the path of a major bushfire west of Brisbane earlier told how the road their property sits on is “pretty much gone”, as large parts of the southeast burn and temperatures continue to soar.

Another resident in the path of one of multiple fires burning west of Toowoomba has told how he spent the first night in his new home peering out the window as an inferno engulfed the neighbourhood.

Extreme temperatures ramped up on Monday and continued Tuesday, forcing evacuations in the Western Downs on Monday and Tuesday.

At one point on Tuesday there were three emergency “leave immediately” warnings active. As of 8.50pm one warnings at that level – the highest QFES warning level – remained active.

The bushfires west of Brisbane were among 43 burning across Queensland.

Rural Fire Service Chief Superintendent Tony Johnstone on Tuesday said more than 400 volunteers and staff in 125 appliances were working hard to fight the fires.

“The aircraft are actually on scene helping to contain the fires but as you can appreciate with windy conditions today, spot fires are advancing probably 200m in front of the fire,” Supt Johnstone said.

So far, five houses have been lost and crews were watching 10 more.

Fire threatens a home at Tara on Tuesday. Source: QFES

Supt Johnstone said he was concerned about officer fatigue, but they had plenty of reserves ready to step in.

“That’s why we’ve actually implemented a number of fire bans. Fire bans are about limiting fire in the landscape, so we can actually manage fatigue as well.

“We’ve got really good resources, good connections with the government and other agencies.

“Our focus at the moment is about controlling the fires, making sure the community is safe, getting around the fires.”

Supt Johnstone was hopeful the coming days would be favourable.

“We’re expecting that the hot dry weather is going to continue into the weekend, and we’ll see the crews currently work on the fires to try and contain the fires.”

At least one structure was destroyed and residents were on Monday told to evacuate as two fast-moving fires raged in Queensland’s Toowoomba and Western Downs region.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued a ‘Leave Immediately’ emergency warning for Tara and Kogan, as well as for Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs on Monday afternoon.

Smoke from the Tara (near the cross) and Millmerran (below the cross) fires west of Toowoomba can be seen drifting over a large swath of South East Queensland, with multiple others to the west of Bundaberg.

One resident from Timothy Rd in Wieambilla took to social media to warn people that the street had been wiped out.

“Timothy Road is pretty much gone. I got out with my dogs and a few clothes. It was an inferno,” Chris Mansell said.

A QFES spokesperson said in the past two days more than 50 fire crews, including aircraft, had been out to Tara and Kogan to try to maintain the blazes however they cannot yet confirm how much land or structures have been destroyed so far.

An emergency “leave immediately” warning remained for Tara and Kogan at 8.50pm Tuesday, with the QFES on Tuesday expanding this warning to Wieambilla, Goranba and Weranga. That emergency warning was for properties between Blackburn Road, Wieambilla Road, Joseph Road, Weranga North Road, Surat Development Road and Chinchilla Tara Road including Tara Kogan Road.

“A large, fast-moving fire is burning in between Tara, Wieambilla and Kogan. It is expected to impact Wieambilla, Goranba and Weranga very soon, the QFES warning said.

“LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.”

Residents in the Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs were told at 11.48am Tuesday that it was still not safe to return. By 2.14pm that had been updated back to the emergency “leave immediately” warning before it was again downgraded to a watch and act “not safe to return” level, which remained active at 8.50pm and had been extended to include Millmerran Woods.

A large bushfire at Tara on Monday. Photo: Supplied

A watch and act “prepare to leave” warning for parts of Weranga was issued at 2.48pm and still active at 8.50pm for properties between Weranga North Road, Tara Kogan Road, Kerrs Road and Surat Development Road including Braemar State Forest.

“A large, fast-moving fire is burning near Goranba Lane. It is travelling towards Weranga North Road,” the QFES warning said.

“Conditions could get worse quickly. Firefighters are working to control the fire. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.”

At least one structure was destroyed by fire on Monday. Picture: 7 News Brisbane

Footage from the Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs fire has shown at least one property fully destroyed by the blaze on Monday.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has imposed a total fire ban for the Darling Downs and southwest Queensland.

The ban will be in place from 12.01am Tuesday until 23.59pm, Friday.

It affects residents in the Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa and Balonne Local Government Areas.

QFES also issued fire bans across the North Coast region.

Due to heightened fire conditions people at Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett, South Burnett and Cherbourg must adhere to the ban from 12.01am Wednesday until 23.59pm, Monday.

In total there were 33 local government areas Tuesday morning with fire bans in place, most around the north of the state and the southwest.

A plume of smoke from a large bushfire burning near Ayers Rock Rd, Cypress Gardens.

Residents west of Brisbane sweltered through temperatures 8C above average on Monday, with more to come over the next two days as a heatwave grips the state.

Heatwave conditions are expected to peak on Wednesday, with Mt Isa, Camooweal and Winton getting to 42C.

Parts of Queensland are set for another scorcher on Tuesday with The Bureau of Meteorology forecasting maximums in the low 40s again.

Meteorologist Shane Kennedy said that on Monday the Far North West of the state clocked the highest temperatures.

Richmond at the Upper Goldfields and Century Mine in the Gulf Country both recorded maximums of 40C on Monday while Hughenden Airport was 39.2C.

“In terms of comparison average, that was more significant in the south east interior, so parts around the Toowoomba area and Gatton were eight to nine degrees above the average,” Mr Kennedy said.

“It’ll generally be very similar today, so forecasts even push above the 40-degree mark in western Queensland … and similar conditions in the southeast generally in the mid 30s from about Ipswich and further west.”

Mr Kennedy said Brisbane will also be similar to Monday with above-average temperatures until at least later in the week.

“The city average for October is 27 degrees today on forecasts to hit 31 degrees, about four above average,” he said.

“But then from Wednesday, we’ll slowly start to see some of those cooler conditions creeping into the far southwest, Birdsville for example forecast 39 today but dropping down just to 30 degrees tomorrow.”

A plume of smoke from a large bushfire burning near Ayers Rock Rd, Cypress Gardens.

Mr Kennedy said the Southeast coast could expect smoke haze from Thursday, after lingering about Inland southern and central Queensland.

“We don’t really have any good winds to flush that out, unfortunately, until that cooler air arrives, so you can expect we’ll see that morning smoke persist for the next couple of mornings,” he said.

Mr Kennedy said a cool change would sweep through as far east as Roma on Thursday and finally bring some relief to the southeast on Friday.

“A couple of hot days coming up, cooler air is on its way but it’ll take a few days to really properly extend across southern Queensland,” he said.

While it will bring cooler air, the winds could potentially create conditions for a fire weather warning about the Channel Country on Wednesday.

“But then, once that trough becomes a bit more mobile Thursday and we see that cooler, gusty winds that should start to push that smoke away by the end of the week.”

“So, it’ll start to push it more to the coast on Thursday but then on Friday should hopefully flush that out.”

Once the cool change sweeps through the southeast, maximum forecast temperatures will plunge up to 11C in 24 hours in some locations.

The biggest drop will be at Gatton in the Lockyer Valley where the forecast maximum on Thursday is 32C.

Come Friday it is only expected to top at 21C.

Nambour and Ipswich will each have a drop of 10C with forecast maximums of 32C on Thursday and 22C on Friday.

Maleny on the Sunshine Coast will also plunge 10C from 29C to 19C.

Beaudesert, Oxley and Noosa Heads each have a 9C drop in forecast maximums from 30C to 21C at Beaudesert and 31C to 22C for both Oxley and Noosa.

The change will be spurred by an upper low inducing a surface low off the northern New South Wales Coast during Thursday or Friday, according to The Bureau.

“The low will combine with a strong ridge from a very strong high south of Australia to produce a strong and cool southeasterly wind change over most of Queensland towards the end of the week,” they forecast on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Lola intensified into a category 5 system about 4am as it headed towards Vanuatu, making landfall there at 10am.

The Bureau said it remained in Fiji’s area of responsibility, and is moving in a general south to southwest direction.

“Lola is expected to maintain intensity today, before beginning to weaken from Wednesday onwards,” said their Tropical cyclone forecast.

“It may get close to the eastern boundary of Australian area of responsibility on Thursday, before turning towards the southeast and moving away.”

Fire bans: What you need to know

Under a local fire ban all open fires are prohibited and all Permits to Light Fire which have been issued in the designated areas have been suspended for the duration of the ban.

Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however QFES encourages people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start.

This may include having a person available to watch out for any ignitions that occur.

What you should do:

– If you have a bushfire survival plan, follow it now.

– Prepare now so you can leave quickly if the bushfire gets close:

– Decide where you and the people you live with will go. This could be with family or a friend away from the fire. Plan how you will get there. Tell others where you will go.

– Charge mobile phones and power banks.

– Be ready to take your pets, pet food, pet lead or crate/carrier.

– Pack a bag with a mobile phone charger, enough clothes for five days, important documents (like ID, insurance papers, passports and photos), medicine, cash and keys.

– If you do not drive, call your support service, a family member or a friend to organise transport if you need to leave or want to leave.

– If you find it hard to move quickly, leaving now is your safest option.

– Keep medications close by.

– Move flammable items away from your house if you can.

– Help others if it’s safe to do so.

– Watch out for firefighters working in the area.

– Do not fly drones around the fire. Drones affect air operations.

■ Australia’s bushfire season: Everything you need to know

Originally published as Qld weather: Body found, homes destroyed as bushfires rage across Queensland