Winds in the south-eastern region of Queensland are fueling the escalation of large bushfires near Warwick and Beerwah. In response, residents of small towns are making preparations to evacuate their homes.
Near Wheatvale, located west of Warwick, a fast-moving bushfire has intensified, prompting bushfire crews to request that residents be ready to leave on Sunday afternoon.
While a significant blaze persists near Beerwah, the smoke is not dense enough to disrupt the return of traffic on the Bruce Highway, according to a spokesperson from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.
As soaring temperatures are anticipated, people in the southwest of Brisbane are getting ready to evacuate their homes. Residents in Hendon, Upper Wheatvale, and Bony Mountain received evacuation warnings on Monday morning as firefighters worked diligently to manage a blaze advancing through the area, heading toward Mountain Road and Upper Wheatvale Road.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have issued a “prepare to leave” warning, emphasizing the potential for rapidly deteriorating conditions.
The state’s firefighters remain on high alert as over 50 fires were active on Monday, with crews closely monitoring a blaze that threatened properties north of Brisbane. After the situation improved, firefighters successfully contained a fire that had consumed nearly 400 hectares.
In Beerwah, a large-scale effort involving nearly 40 crews and seven waterbombing aircraft was required to gain control of the significant fire. Although residents were initially advised to evacuate their homes on Saturday, the warning has since been downgraded, with residents urged to remain indoors to avoid smoke. However, crews are on standby due to the expectation of hot temperatures and elevated fire risks.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings of above-average temperatures expected in most of inland Queensland by mid-week. Temperatures are projected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in southern inland towns such as Charleville and Roma, extending to Longreach and Mount Isa in the state’s northwest. The bureau noted that temperatures are five to ten degrees above average for southern and central Queensland. Additionally, the Channel Country in western Queensland could experience extreme high fire danger in the coming days.
