Remain vigilant as region’s bushfire risk changes

DANGEROUS fire conditions in the Darling Downs region will continue this weekend with residents urged to remain vigilant about bushfire risks.

Hot conditions will fuel a very high fire danger rating across the south-west district today, with those conditions to peak tomorrow.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said crews would remain on alert across the weekend with the hot and dry winds posing a potential threat.

“It’s expected to peak on Sunday when it will be a bit worse,” the spokeswoman said.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts maximum temperatures of about 35 degrees tomorrow, with a slight chance of an afternoon or evening shower.

The warning comes after a total fire ban was enforced for the south-west district, stretching from Toowoomba to the far reaches of the Western Downs, for the past three days.

The potentially dangerous combination of hot, dry winds with low humidity had pushed up the risk of bushfires amid what authorities described as “unprecedented” conditions.

Cooler easterly winds were expected to reach Toowoomba and the south-west region today, putting humidity back into the atmosphere and reducing the bushfire and vegetation fire risk.

QFES, Rural Fire Service and volunteer brigades will remain on standby across the weekend to respond to incidents.