Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Hot winds to whip up Qld fire danger
The weather bureau warns conditions will continue to deteriorate in Queensland as extremely hot air is pushed across the state on Friday and into the weekend.
November 14, 2019
Queensland firefighters are facing another day of severe bushfire conditions as dry westerly winds bring a heatwave to the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the situation will begin deteriorating on Friday as extremely hot air is pushed from the interior.
“The story is one of very high fire dangers or severe fire danger ratings for the next three days,” BOM forecaster Richard Wardell told AAP.
Severe isolated storms cells have also been forecast to potentially bring dry lightning which could ignite more bushfires.
Coastal areas can also expect a low-intensity heatwave.
More than 70 fires are burning across the state, with alerts in place for Black Snake, in the Gympie region, and the coastal towns of Woodgate and Buxton, south of Bundaberg, on Thursday afternoon.
As the fire threat deepens, anger is growing toward a teenage boy accused of lighting the Cobraball fire near Yeppoon.
A total of 36 structures – including 14 homes – have so far been destroyed by the massive blaze, that has burned for days in central Queensland.
There are also a number of fires between Brisbane and the NSW border, including in the Scenic Rim west of the Gold Coast.