ID :
208067
Mon, 09/19/2011 - 14:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/208067
The shortlink copeid
Dozens of bushfires burning in Qld
SYDNEY (AAP) - About 50 fires are burning across a tinder-dry Queensland and the severe conditions fuelling the blazes aren't expected to let up until at least Thursday.
Low humidity, rising temperatures and north-westerly winds have created a very high to severe fire danger for large parts of Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Monday.
Hot spots include farming land west of the Great Dividing Range in the Maranoa, Warrego and central Queensland regions, while areas around Townsville and west of Charters Towers are also of concern.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) chief Lee Johnson said an abundance of fuel from the floods had also increased the fire risk.
"That means we have large continuous grassland covering thousands and thousands of hectares," the fire commissioner said.
"So our concern is: should a fire get away and take off, it has a large slice of the landscape to run over without any interruptions.
"That is why we are very keen for people to report fires early."
On Monday, a fire spanning two kilometres was threatening cane farms near Bundaberg. The fire had already destroyed 20 hectares of land as well as a harvester.
West of Brisbane, at Moogerah, two water-bombing aircraft were trying to control a blaze that spanned 2ha.
The QRFS said the fire was expected to burn for "a long time" and fire breaks were being created.
Near Rockhampton, at Mount Morgan, two large bushfires were burning.
The fires broke out on Sunday afternoon and had so far chewed through about 4000ha.
One of the fire fronts was about two kilometres long and was approaching properties.
Fire crews are putting in large fire breaks and are conducting back-burning.
BoM senior forecaster Brett Harrison said a cool change would ease the fire danger by Thursday, particularly in the south-east.
A smoke haze that had been covering Brisbane since Sunday was also expected to lift by then.
The easing of conditions would be welcomed by firefighters who were kept busy at the weekend.
Mr Johnson said there were up to 340 fires on Saturday and Sunday stretching from Queensland's far north to the southern border.
Low humidity, rising temperatures and north-westerly winds have created a very high to severe fire danger for large parts of Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Monday.
Hot spots include farming land west of the Great Dividing Range in the Maranoa, Warrego and central Queensland regions, while areas around Townsville and west of Charters Towers are also of concern.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) chief Lee Johnson said an abundance of fuel from the floods had also increased the fire risk.
"That means we have large continuous grassland covering thousands and thousands of hectares," the fire commissioner said.
"So our concern is: should a fire get away and take off, it has a large slice of the landscape to run over without any interruptions.
"That is why we are very keen for people to report fires early."
On Monday, a fire spanning two kilometres was threatening cane farms near Bundaberg. The fire had already destroyed 20 hectares of land as well as a harvester.
West of Brisbane, at Moogerah, two water-bombing aircraft were trying to control a blaze that spanned 2ha.
The QRFS said the fire was expected to burn for "a long time" and fire breaks were being created.
Near Rockhampton, at Mount Morgan, two large bushfires were burning.
The fires broke out on Sunday afternoon and had so far chewed through about 4000ha.
One of the fire fronts was about two kilometres long and was approaching properties.
Fire crews are putting in large fire breaks and are conducting back-burning.
BoM senior forecaster Brett Harrison said a cool change would ease the fire danger by Thursday, particularly in the south-east.
A smoke haze that had been covering Brisbane since Sunday was also expected to lift by then.
The easing of conditions would be welcomed by firefighters who were kept busy at the weekend.
Mr Johnson said there were up to 340 fires on Saturday and Sunday stretching from Queensland's far north to the southern border.
