Bombers called in for blaze
LOCKYER Valley rural fire fighters have called on water bombers to attack a large scrub fire on two fronts.
The blaze took hold on a Flagstone Creek ridge line about 1am on Monday.
It burnt about 40 hectares before fireys brought it under control, about five hours later.
The bombers assisted 11 Rural Fire Service ground units.
A second fire took hold near Eskdale at the same time but was brought under control quickly.
RFS Acting-Areas Director for the Southwest Region Michael Welsh said the incidents were a sign of the rapidly advancing fire season.
“It is getting dryer, and it is getting hotter,” he said.
“The westerly winds are coming through and they are starting to impact our fires, while the moisture is not hanging around.”
Despite the conditions, RFS wardens are still at liberty to issue hazard reduction burn permits.
“We are encouraging wardens to issue those permits if the conditions allow them,” Insp Welsh said.
The Darling Downs and Southwest fire danger rating will remain high through to the weekend, while pockets of the Lockyer Valley will tip into the very high rating.
“As you get closer to the coast the winds are higher and dryer,” Insp Welsh said.
In an unrelated matter, a pile of burning rubbish threatened to ignite a home near Tara. Four QFES crews were called to home on Bridge Road about noon yesterday. The fire did not take hold in the house, but scorched a corner.