Man dies during bushfire crisis
A CENTRAL Queensland man has died while clearing a firebreak on his family’s property south of Emerald, as the state marks the start of summer with an ongoing bushfire crisis.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the man, 21, was hit by a falling tree at the Rolleston property, and has extended her sympathies to his family. She says the tragedy brought home the serious dan- ger the bushfires present, and the courage of those fighting them.
Ms Palaszczuk was in Finch Hatton, west of Mackay yesterday, visiting a local command centre.
On Friday, 10 women and children were flown to safety from the nearby Eungella State Forest as the conditions suddenly changed and the fire flared out of control.
Temperatures are expected to build over the next four to five days, with the maximum to peak tomorrow.
A local fire ban has been issued for the Brisbane region until the end of today and a fire ban for parts of southwest Queensland, including Toowoomba, the Southern and Western Downs and the Maranoa areas, was extended to the end of Tuesday.