News item

23/09/09 Fire Activity Report as at 2pm

23/09/2009 3:35:40 PM

BRISBANE
Perkins Road, Neurum (near Woodford) – grass fire
Eight fire crews are at the scene of a large grass fire on Perkins Road at Neurum. This fire has been burning for a week and crews were working in the area yesterday. Crews returned to the site this morning after the fire flared up again. Crews are currently working in three sectors on the southern, eastern and western sides of the fire. Crews on the southern end of the fire are working to prevent the fire from moving up the mountain and a home owner in the area is actively defending their property. Crews on the western side have now contained the blaze in that area and crews on the eastern side continue to monitor the area for small spot fires.

NORTH COAST REGION
Mary Valley Road, Imbil– grass fire
Ten fire crews have now extinguished a fire on Mary Valley Road at Imbil. The fire started around midday yesterday and crews returned to a grass fire around 4.30am. Crews will remain on scene for the next several hours to ensure the fire is completley extinguished.

Cedar Pocket Road, Cedar Pocket – grass fire
Fire crews have now contained a large grass fire on Cedar Pocket Road, Cedar Pocket which started around 9.15am yesterday. A shed was lost in the fire early yesterday. Fire breaks have now been established around the fire and it is contained. Fire crews will remain on scene for the next several hours to ensure the fire is exetnguished.

Springs Road, Moolboolaman – grass fire
Five fire crews are currently responding to a large grass fire on Springs Road at Moolboolaman which broke out around 10:45am. The fire is approxiamtely 20 acres in size and is not threatening any houses at this stage. Fire fighters have now extinguished the fire and are ensuring the area is safe.

Sheehans Road, Dangore – grass fire
Five fire crews are at the scene of a grass fire on Sheehans Road at Dangore. The fire has been burning since yesterday. Fire fighters have contained the fire. However, there are a lot of timber stacks alight in the area. A strike team has responded to this incident and is working to extinguish the timber stacks. There are no houses threatened at this stage.

CENTRAL REGION
Mackellor Road, Lowmead (near Gladstone) – grass fire
Five fire crews remain at a grassfire on Mackellor Road at Lowmead. More crews are currently responding to this incident. The fire started around 9.30am and crews are currently establishing fire breaks along a rail line to contain the blaze. No houses are under threat at this time.



SOUTH EASTERN REGION
Gehrke Hill Road, Summerholm – grass fire
Four fire crews are currently responding to a grass fire which broke out on Gehrke Hill Road at Summerholm around 12:30pm. No structures are under threat at this stage and fire fighters are working to contain the fire.

NORTHERN REGION
Probert Road, Bambaroo – grass fire
Three fire crews are currently responding to a large grass fire on Probert Road at Bambaroo which broke out around 12:30. Crews contained one part of the fire but are continuing to work on a 25 hectare area which is not under control at this stage. Firefighters are also conducting property protection activities around two properties in the area. No other properties are believed to be under threat at this stage.


FIRE WEATHER WARNING AND FIRE BANS

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to remain on high alert with very high to extreme fire conditons continuing today.

The Bureau of Meterology issued a fire weather warning for the South East Coast, Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Maranoa and Warrego, Wide Bay and Burnett, Capricornia, Central Highlands and Coalfields, and Central West districts.

Around 4.12am, the Bureau predicted that a trough over inland Queensland was moving eastwards and will move off the southern coast during the afternoon and evening. Dry and gusty north westerly winds will shift to the west to south west in the wake of the trough.
Grassland and forest fire dangers are forecast to reach extreme during the day over the Southeast Coast, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett, Capricornia, and the Central Highlands and Coalfields districts. Grassland fire dangers are forecast to reach extreme in the Maranoa and Warrego district.

The Queensland Rural Fire Service advises people within these areas to expect dangerous fire conditions if a fire occurs and to prepare accordingly.

Total fire bans will continue until midnight Thursday at this time in parts of Queensland and conditions will continue to be monitored with the fire bans being reviewed in coming days.

Total fire bans were put in place from midnight Monday to Thursday in the following Local Government areas: Toowoomba, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Roma, Paroo, Goondiwindi, Maranoa, Murweh, South Burnett, Banana, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Isaac, Whitsunday, Mackay, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo and Longreach.
In addition, total fire bans were put in place from midnight last night to Thursday in the following Local Government areas: North Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Cherbourg, Bundaberg, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich City, Scenic Rim, Logan City, Gold Coast, Brisbane City, Redland City and Moreton Bay.
Further information on fire bans and exemptions can be found at http://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Fire_bans_restrictions.html
Regular updated information will be provided on the QFRS Rural Operations website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or at www.fire.qld.gov.au or by listening to your local radio station.


Contact for media enquiries: For more information contact Department of Community Safety Media on 3247 8186