CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR FIRE STORM

Region’s hot, dry conditions push risk of bushfires to extreme

THE entire south-west district is being told to brace for extreme fire conditions today as hot, dry winds fuel concerns for the bushfire season.

Total fire bans are in force across Toowoomba, the Southern and Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa and Balonne regions as firefighting aircraft are put on standby.

The unique conditions are fuelled by the north northwesterly winds which will sweep the south-west today, easing tonight and into the weekend.

Fire mapping aircraft and bombers have been sent to the Western Downs, while tankers filled with Toowoomba water have been sent to areas where conditions could reach catastrophic levels - Warwick and Stanthorpe.

“I’m imploring the community to be vigilant and don’t be complacent,” regional operations co-ordinator for the south west region Eddie Lacko said.

EXTREME fire conditions will sweep the region today, forcing all firefighters’ leave to be cancelled and aircraft to be put on standby across the south-west region.

Fixed-wing aircraft, fire mapping plans and helicopter bombers at the Toowoomba aerodrome will today be at the ready as Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service crews prepare for what could be catastrophic conditions in parts of the Granite Belt.

Additional aerial craft have been sent to parts of the Western Downs to provide air support if needed.

Regional operations c-ordinator for the south west region Eddie Lacko said bushfire conditions were expected to peak today with hot, dry north north-westerly winds from this morning.

“It will be hot and dry, and that will follow through with a south-westerly change late in the afternoon,” he said.

“Although conditions will cool down, we’ll still have severe fire conditions (tomorrow).”

Loaded water tankers have been deployed to key areas of concern around Stanthorpe and Warwick where, if a fire were to break out, fighting it would be “difficult to contain”.

“Our plan is if we need to take water to fight fires, we’ll actually replace it in those areas,” Chief Superintendent Lacko said.

“I’m imploring the community to be vigilant and don’t be complacent.”

Residents are being urged to review their bushfire aurvival plans.

Hot activities such as slashing, mowing, grinding and welding should be reconsidered with a total fire ban in place in Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa and Balonne in place until midnight Friday.

Rural Fire Service acting regional manager Clint Neumann said brigades across the district were on standby with crews equipped to respond to fire outbreaks.

“(Today) is not something people would have experienced fairly often,” he said. “It is pretty unique.” Check ruralfire.qld.gov.au.