By Jeremy Cook
“Perfect” bushfire conditions and a sudden spate of heightened fire activity have triggered a total three-day fire ban for most parts of southern Queensland.
Up to 10 local government areas across the state’s vast south west have been placed under the ban which started just after midnight on Monday morning.
Impacted council areas include the Southern Downs, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Maranoa, Toowoomba, Balonne, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Bulloo.
The Queensland Fire Department advised fire conditions were “perfect for bushfires to ignite and spread quickly”, a statement read.
A fire ban prohibits all open fires and suspends any permits issued to light fires for the duration of the ban. QFD encouraged people to use power tools with “extreme care” while ensuring adequate equipment was on hand to extinguish any sudden ignitions which might occur.
QFD Deputy Chief Officer Matt Inwood told ABC News the ban responded to “a significant increase in the number of fires“ throughout southern Queensland.
As of midday on Monday, at least three fires were still burning throughout the impacted areas.
Rural residents on Warwick’s south western edge were put on high alert last Friday when a fast-moving grass fire threatened properties in the Rosenthal Heights area.
Residents were told to prepare for evacuation after the blaze spread approximately 10 kilometres in a little more than two hours, a QFD spokesman said.
The latest seasonal bushfire outlook, issued by the national council fire and emergency services, warned of increased risks for grass and bushfires across large parts of Queensland including the Southern Downs.
