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More warnings as firefighters remain on high alert across Queensland

By Laine Clark

A “beast” of a blaze that has claimed a life and destroyed homes continues to burn in southern Queensland after defying firefighters for another night.

There were hopes that the dangerous Tara bushfire, west of Brisbane, that has burnt 11,000 hectares over four days would be contained by Friday.

But Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said firefighters may have to battle on through to the weekend as they take on three blazes that are threatening the region.

Firefighters are on high alert across the state, attending a total of 420 blazes this week with reports of up to 32 houses destroyed.

People in the Tara region were on Friday told to leave immediately.

And residents at Kogan and Wieambilla have been issued a “prepare to leave” warning with the deadly Tara fire threatening properties.

Fire crews and aircraft have been working to contain a large, fast-moving fire near Tara.

Fire crews and aircraft have been working to contain a large, fast-moving fire near Tara.Credit: QFES

“Fire and Emergency Services are hoping they may be on top of it come the weekend but fires are a different beast to manage,” McVeigh said.

Overseas reinforcements may be called to bolster fatigued firefighters battling the blazes.

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Almost 50 interstate firefighters have been requested to assist crews, with more potentially to be recruited from New Zealand.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said extra help was needed after visiting the Western Downs on Friday where a deadly fire continues to threaten properties amid reports of looting.

“Some of our firefighters are exhausted and fatigue needs to be managed,” she said at Dalby.

The Premier said Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon would also visit the region soon to help look at accommodation options for the hundreds who have left – and lost – their homes.

There are 280 people at evacuation centres across Dalby and Chinchilla.

“People will need a helping hand, there is absolutely no doubt about that,” Palaszczuk said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the Western Downs on Friday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the Western Downs on Friday.Credit: Nine News

“Some people have lost everything.”

People at nearby Moonie have also been told to leave immediately with another fire approaching.

The third Western Downs blaze is near Halliford after it was started by a midweek lightning strike.

McVeigh said more people arrived at Western Downs evacuation centres at Dalby and Chinchilla overnight after the Halliford fire threatened properties.

There are 279 people at Dalby and 44 at Chinchilla.

Tara residents are still unable to return after hundreds were forced to evacuate this week, with one person claimed by the fire.

A body was found on Tuesday night but is yet to be identified.

A 73-year-old woman also died after suffering what is believed to be a heart attack while trying to evacuate her property.

McVeigh was hopeful people would start returning to the Tara region soon.

“Tara is still a dangerous fire but today we may be able to let some people come back in there well away from the firefront,” he said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli hoped the state rallied around the Western Downs community after visiting the area on Thursday.

“They are resilient but boy oh boy are they getting tested at the moment. This rebuild is going to take a lot,” he told reporters on Friday.

“As a state we have to do all we can to let everyone in the Western Downs area know that we’ve got their back.”

In the north-west, people at Breakaway near Mount Isa, have been told to prepare to leave while at nearby Lake Moondarra there is a “not safe to return” warning.

Residents of Carnarvon Gorge in the central highlands have been issued “prepare to leave” alerts.

There are extreme high fire danger warnings for the central-west, north-west and Channel Country.

The Darling Downs and Granite Belt area where Tara is located remains a high fire danger despite cooler conditions on Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned the cool change had brought strong winds but little rain, with gusts of up to 70km/h in the central-west.

-AAP

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Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/queensland/more-warnings-as-firefighters-remain-on-high-alert-across-queensland-20231027-p5efp0.html