Aircraft join the fire fight
FIRE CREWS took to the skies to douse blazes burning in the Tablelands since last week.
Tahna and Simon Jackson, from Stockade Station near Dimbulah, said they lost some irrigation equipment and grass to the fires on Thursday.
Since then, the couple have been helping neighbours keep the fires from spreading.
Mrs Jackson said the flames came within 50m of a neighbour’s home.
“We managed to control and start backburning away from the house, and then the firies showed up and did big backburning along one side of the house,” she said.
“It got within 50m of the house, and then came close to another house, because there’s lots of little whirly-winds popping up.
“The winds have died down now, but the whirly-winds were throwing embers, and there’d be a big start again.
“But we’ve just been lucky that the winds have changed and they’ve stopped it.”
Yesterday the aerial fire crews focused their efforts at Dimbulah and Irvinbank.
“Aircraft are carrying out mapping and fire bombing operations,” a QFES spokeswoman said.
“Crews have cut fire breaks and used bulldozers to create containment lines,” a QFES spokeswoman said.
“They are allowing the fires to burn to the break.”
As of last night the bushfire near Hanley Road and Veness Road was not threatening property.
The fires have flared as winter has made way for dry, warm conditions in the first week of spring.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects similar conditions until at least mid week.
Meteorologist Jess Gardner said the windy conditions that fuelled bushfires may worsen today.
“We are looking at the winds staying over the next couple of days,” Ms Gardner said.
“They Thursday.
Dry air will linger with possible dust haze pushing up from Townsville.
“We should see some humidity around from Wednesday which will help keep the fires down and then possible showers on Thursday,” Ms Gardner said. should ease on Head of Produce, Woolworths. Thanks to mild weather, we’re now seeing top quality asparagus. It’s peak time for the Australian crop and as the growing season is short, be sure to pick some up in store today. It’s been a great winter for Sumo mandarins and we’re seeing good late season fruit coming through. Only available at Woolworths, Sumo mandarins are seedless with sweet, juicy fesh. Truss tomatoes are vineripened and picked by hand at just the right time to ensure the best favour and colour. They’re grown Australia-wide, so expect to see plenty in store wherever you live.