‘Leave immediately’: Bushfires rage across Queensland
Robyn Wuth |
Emergency warnings urging residents to flee are being issued as bushfires rage on the Western Downs, northwest of Brisbane.
Residents are being urged to leave immediately as a fast-moving fire at Myall Park and Hookswood near the town of Miles puts properties under threat.
The warning to people between Leichhardt Highway, Gearys Road, Greens Road and Ryalls Road was issued at 4.20pm.
“A fast-moving fire is travelling from Warramoo Road and is expected to impact Ryalls Road overnight,” Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said on Monday afternoon.
“This fire may pose a threat to lives. Major roads in the area may be impacted.”
The fires flared out of control on Monday as firefighters faced challenging conditions.
Crews were fighting several fires in the region on Monday, with two additional warnings for blazes burning in hot conditions on the western downs.
A prepare-to-leave alert was issued for a fast-moving fire travelling from the Nudley State Forest towards Burra Burri Creek Road and Davis Road, near Jandowae.
There was also a watch and act alert in place for Montrose and Wieambilla, near Tara.
“Multiple fires are burning between South Road, Chinchilla Tara Road, Church Road, Weranga North Road and the intersection of Clynes Road and Kogan Condamine Road,” the QFES alert said.
“If you have left the area, it is still not safe to return,” the alert at 5pm on Monday said.
No fatalities or significant injuries have been reported but firefighters said a number of people had been treated for smoke inhalation or heat exhaustion.
“Unfortunately, we are expecting another warm day – not as warm and not as challenging as yesterday, but still a very difficult day – so the conditions will probably worsen through the day as the heat of the day comes on,” QFES state operations co-ordinator James Haig told the ABC.
The Myall Creek fire has burnt through about 2300 hectares and continues to pose a threat, travelling between Myall Park Road and the Leichhardt Highway towards Warramoo Road and Old Forrest Road.
Firefighters are working to contain the fire but major roads in the area have been impacted.
The fire at Tara is about 840ha in size and continues to burn between South Road, Chinchilla Tara Road, Wieambilla Road, Church Road and Weranga North Road.
Water-bombing aircraft, two air support crews and dozens of ground crews remain on alert for the blazes.
Queensland sweltered through its hottest day in almost two years on Sunday, with 40-plus degrees temperatures in various parts of the state.
AAP
