Queenslanders have been warned to be extremely cautious as two bushfires continue to burn in the state’s south, with firefighters struggling to contain the flames ahead of a potential sudden afternoon wind change and humid temperatures.
Residents in Tara, Wieambilla, Cypress Gardens, Kogan, Goranba and Weranga, which are about 300 kilometres west or north-west of Brisbane, were told on Wednesday to either evacuate or not to return to their homes due to ongoing safety concerns.
Queensland Fire and Emergency (QFES) sent out alerts just before 6am and have been repeatedly sending out messages in the following hours.
The latest update published after 11am advised residents who lived on Upper Humbug Road, Blackburns Road, Wieambilla Road, Weranga North Road and Tara Kogan Road to “leave immediately” as their lives could be at risk.
Those living in Cypress Gardens, Millmerran Downs and Millmerran Woods were also told about 9:30am it was not safe to return home if they had evacuated.
QFES Assistant Commissioner Peter Hollier said firefighters were working around the clock to battle more than 100 fires still burning across the state.
He stressed the south-west region was most in danger on Wednesday, saying there will be “extreme weather coming” in the afternoon.
“There will be a change in the wind direction with a front coming through, its anticipated the wind will change from the south and that will have an influence on the direction of the fire overall,” he told Sky News Australia host Tom Connell.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there could be a shower or two in the afternoon and a dip in temperature late in the week which could provide much-need relief.
Thunderstorms are forecast for the state’s north-west and in-land southern and central parts of the Sunshine State, bringing with it small hail and gusty winds.
However, Ass Comm Hollier warned it will be brief saying rain is “always hit and miss” and warning winds would make conditions even more tricky for fire crews.
“So, we’re still going to see some challenging times even if we do have some respite in the weather, that will be short-lived… the temperatures next week will again be hot, dry and windy,” he said on Wednesday’s AM Agenda.
“The wind has certainly been the major factor that has been driving these fires.”
The warning from fire authorities comes as police confirmed a body was discovered in the Western Downs region on Tuesday night.
Police had no further information, but said an investigation was underway.
About 170 residents have been forced into evacuation centres and at least five homes have been destroyed, with fears that number will rise.
One man told 9News he had lost his car, caravan and four sheds in one blaze.
While a mother-of-eight revealed on Sunrise her family had left to visit their grandmother when her pop received a call about their house being engulfed in flames.
(SKY NEWS)
