The Cairns Post

ON FIRE WATCH

Twin blazes spark race to avert disaster

- ALICIA NALLY AND GRACE MASON

FIRE crews have described how two, simultaneo­us, fastmoving fires could have ended in catastroph­e on the Tablelands as hot, dry conditions persist in the region.

Rural Fire Service regional manager Superinten­dent John Lindsay said the conditions were exacerbate­d by the fact a significan­t portion of Far North firefighte­rs were still helping control fires in the south of the state.

Fire crews responded to one fire at 10am at Springs Rd, Mareeba, near the town’s industrial estate. Insp Lindsay said the fire was “incredibly fast-moving”.

“The fire behaviour has changed dramatical­ly from what we’re used to, they’re moving faster than we’ve ever seen before and being supported by low humidity, incredible dryness in the earth and the heat from the sun,” Insp Lindsay said. “These fires just take off with a bit of wind and it took about 20 fire trucks and two aircraft to get this fire under control.

“That really stretched the region and then about 2pm a second fire kicked off at Biboohra. That was about 20km away by road and we had to divert resources on the way to Mareeba to attend that fire.

“In both fires a lot of homes and industries were affected and if it wasn’t for the action of the firefighte­rs working together we could have really had a major disaster.”

The same crews that fought a blaze in Dimbulah on Monday

were also on duty yesterday and Insp Lindsay said they were “fatigued”.

About 14 firefighte­rs returned from southern regions yesterday and would be on duty today to help the effort.

There was still a very high fire danger across the Far North today and Insp Lindsay said it was important rural residents had a fire safety plan.

“It doesn’t matter where they are – in Herberton, or Watsonvill­e, or Ravenshoe – they should all keep an eye out on media and on social media to see where these fires are and when the warnings change, so they can act immediatel­y.”

QFES downgraded its advice for the Biboohra and Mareeba fires to “stay informed” late yesterday.

Mango farmer Allan Stewart’s family home and about 3000 trees were destroyed when a bushfire swept through Biboohra in September.

It was the first time a home has been lost in the Far North by a bushfire in at least a decade.

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 ?? Picture: TOBIA KIPPER ?? SPEEDY RESPONSE: A fire truck at the Go Kart Action Mareeba track.
Picture: TOBIA KIPPER SPEEDY RESPONSE: A fire truck at the Go Kart Action Mareeba track.

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