Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Wind, heat set to return to charred Qld
Conditions have eased for firefighters battling Queensland’s bushfires but it’s no time to be complacent, with the fire danger set to increase in coming days.
September 15, 2019
Firefighters continue to battle about 50 bushfires in tinderbox conditions across Queensland, with the fire danger set to increase in coming days.
Crews from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand are lending a hand to fight blazes that have razed homes, businesses and an estimated 55,000 hectares of land.
The tough conditions are forecast to ease on Sunday as moist winds continue to cool the southeast of the state.
However, the fire danger remains high ahead of deteriorating firefighting conditions forecast to arrive early next week, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
“It’s going to be very warm through southern Queensland on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” meteorologist Sam Campbell told AAP late on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the hot dry weather is set to continue.”
The 10-day emergency has seen some 1200 bushfires burning across the state, with more than 600 community warnings issued in the past two weeks.
Officials have warned some fires could burn for months because the ground is bone-dry and there is no significant rain in sight.
Fires continue to burn in the Lamington National Park, near Binna Burra, in Sarabah and Lower Beechmont.
The Ballandean blaze, south of Stanthorpe, continues to burn within containment lines and there is currently no threat to property.