ON FIRE WATCH
Twin blazes spark race to avert disaster
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.