Bushfire threatens Gold Coast homes
Bushfire threatens Gold Coast homes
26 October 2012
published by www.smh.com.au
Australia–– UPDATED 12.30PM
A bushfire is threatening homes in the Gold Coast hinterland, with two helicopters waterbombing the area near Mt Tamborine.
The blaze broke out at Clagiraba, in the vincinty of King Parrot Court, about 9.40am.
Eleven fire crews are now battling the blaze south of Brisbane, as well as two helicopters.
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“There are no homes under immediate threat, but we are using waterbombers to help our firefighters on the ground and protect homes,” a Department of Community Safety spokesman said.
“We are also working to protect three structures.”
It is unclear how many homes are under threat.
Meanwhile, multiple fire crews are monitoring the fire at Greenbank, which has been burning for nearly two weeks.
Extra fire crews are on hand should the fire escalate amid high temperatures and high winds this afternoon.
Fire crews are currently battling 30 fires across the state, including several blazes in national park near Ravensbourne and Crows Nest, north of Toowoomba, which were sparked by lightening strikes last Saturday.
Containment lines are holding back grass and bushfires at Grantham in the Lockyer Valley, Mundubbera in the South Burnett, the Beecher State Forest, near Gladstone, and Wolvi and Kandanga, near Gympie.
Queensland authorities are braced for another day of high fire danger as more than 40 blazes continue to burn across the state.
High temperatures and strong, gusty winds are expected across much of the state today, including in western, central and southeastern regions.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson said firefighters had prepared yesterday for a return to very challenging weather conditions.
Firefighters were strengthening containment lines to prepare for this weather change and trying to ensure that fires dont break out, he told 612 ABC Brisbane.
Conditions are expected to be most challenging this afternoon.
There is no immediate threat to property from any of the fires that continue to burn.
And most, including those in the states south, are burning within containment lines.
But an extra 100 firefighters have been brought in to the southeast, with Ipswich forecast to hit 37 degrees today.
Large fires of concern are being monitored at Ravensbourne, north of Toowoomba on the Darling Downs, and in inaccessible country near Mundubbera.
Authorities may have to close the Warrego Highway at Morven, near Charleville in the states south-west, if a blaze burning across 21,000 acres in the Chesterton National Park escalates.
Weve strengthened our resources in the area. Weve moved a rural strike team out to Morven and weve relocated some of the aircraft into Morven and set up an air base there, QFRS Superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl told 612 ABC Radio.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a fire weather warning for areas in and around Birdsville, Boulia, Thargomindah, Charleville, Roma, St George and Inglewood.
Temperatures up to 40 degrees, relative humidity down to 10 per cent and warm, dry and gusty south to southwesterly winds to about 50km/h are expected.
