RISK TO HOMES
ANGER OVER SUSPECTED ARSON AT HERVEYS RANGE
FIREFIGHTERS and property owners were left furious after a suspicious fire at Herveys Range put homes under threat.
More than 80 firefighters were on the ground yesterday tackling the blaze.
Water bombers and graders were used to desperately try and stop the dangerous blaze from destroying any homes. As of last night there was still a battle on to stop the fire which was burning near Blue Ridge Dve and Page Rd, Lynam. Incident contoller Jim Besgrove said the fire may burn for days.
BRAVE firefighters battled to save several homes west of Townsville from fierce bushfires yesterday amid fears the blaze was deliberately lit.
The fires are expected to continue for days.
A damaging blaze in the Herveys Range region broke containment lines yesterday afternoon as the front stretched more than 9km past the old Greenvale rail line.
People risking their lives to fight the flames were disgusted after it appeared the blaze and smaller fires earlier in the week had been deliberately lit.
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” in- cident controller Jim Besgrove said. “Both Friday and today’s ( Sunday’s) fires appear to be acts of arson.”
Rural properties in Lynam, Jensen, Black River and other areas around Herveys Range were threatened by the blaze but crews managed to protect homes that were under serious threat.
Tracey Baker said her property was not in harm’s way yesterday afternoon but she had visited the front lines to check on friends.
She was furious after learning the fires were being treated as suspicious.
“These firebugs have no idea … they are putting lives in danger,” Mrs Baker said.
“They are putting stock in danger which is people’s livelihoods.
“People will have to replace fences, you don’t know if any stock has been caught up in the fire, their feed is going to be lost so they will have to buy in feed. Without firefighters people would have lost their homes … they saved one lady’s house and the fire went right up to her doorstep.”
Backburning and water bombing were two of the most effective methods crews used to combat the fire.
The incredible size of the fire stretched resources with more than 20 appliances and about 80 crew members on the scene.
“We’ve put all our efforts into making sure that houses are protected,” Mr Besgrove said.
“From where the fire started to where it broke across the Greenvale train line you are talking 8km- 9km and it spread that distance in about three hours.
“It’s actually becoming an even larger fire.”
Last night Becks Drive, North Vickers Rd and Parkside Drive were all closed due to excessive smoke hindering visibility.
Mr Besgrove expected the fire to continue burning for several days, depending on weather conditions.