By Jeremy Cook
UPDATE 3.51pm –
The Queensland Fire Department has downgraded its warning level for a bushfire burning near Warwick’s southern edge to ADVICE, advising residents to “stay informed”.
A QFD alert warned the fire was still burning at the intersection of Ford and Kingsleigh Roads and moving towards Inverleigh and Ranger Roads.
Major roads or highways may be impacted, including Ford and Kingsleigh Roads, the alert stated. QFD advised residents to stay informed by regularly checking its online bushfire warning website, following them on social media platforms Facebook and X, and tuning into local radio. Conditions could change quickly, QFD also advised.
EARLIER –
Residents near Warwick’s south western boundary have been issued a “prepare to leave” warning as a fast-moving bushfire moves towards Rosenthal Heights.
A QFD alert issued just after 2pm on Friday warned the fire was burning at the corner of Ford and Kingsleigh Road and travelling west towards Inverleigh and Ranger Roads.
The warning area included land between Schoch Road, Lyndhurst Road, Ranger Road, the New England Highway, Glenvale Road and Washpool Road.
“Conditions could get worse quickly,” the alert read.
A spokesman for QFD estimated the fire had spread approximately 10 kilometres since it first caught alight at around midday.
A combined force of roughly up to 16 QFD and rural fire crews were at the scene fighting the blaze, the spokesman said.
He said there were a couple of houses which crews were “looking to protect”.
“There’s a risk of fire heading towards them [properties] and crews are working to protect those structures,” he said.
QFD’s official alert level for the fire sat at “watch and act” as of 2.30pm. If a “watch and act” warning has been issued, residents within the warning area could be in danger due to changing conditions and should act now to remain safe, QFD’s warning guidelines state.
An emergency warning has yet to be issued for the fire.
QFD advice:
– If you have a bushfire survival plan, follow it now.
– Prepare now so you can leave quickly if the bushfire gets close:
– Decide where you and the people you live with will go. This could be with family or a friend away from the fire. Plan how you will get there. Tell others where you will go.
– Charge mobile phones and power banks.
– Be ready to take your pets, pet food, pet lead or crate/carrier.
– Pack a bag with a mobile phone charger, enough clothes for five days, important documents (like ID, insurance papers, passports and photos), medicine, cash and keys.
– If you do not drive, call your support service, a family member or a friend to organise transport if you need to leave or want to leave.
– If you find it hard to move quickly, leaving now is your safest option.
– Keep medications close by.
– Move flammable items away from your house if you can.
– Help others if it’s safe to do so.
– Watch out for firefighters working in the area.
– Do not fly drones around the fire. Drones affect air operations.
Stay informed:
– Keep checking the QFD Current Bushfires and Warnings website
– Follow QFD on Facebook and X.com
– Listen to your local radio station
