November 12, 2014
Seven urban and rural fire crews and two water bombers were called to a large bushfire burning between Olsens Road and the Wondai-Chinchilla Road west of Tingoora this afternoon.
A large smoke plume – visible for several kilometres around the site – reduced visibility on the Wondai-Chinchilla Road.
Fire fighters, who were called to the scene about 12:45pm, worked to contain the blaze and protect properties that were under threat.
Water bombers were called in not long after the first crews arrived at the scene, and a bulldozer and a grader were used on the ground to help create breaks.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service employees were also on the scene.
The fire, which is believed to have started as a hazard reduction burn, spread through grassland on several cattle properties fronting Olsens Road, and adjoining scrub on the Wondai-Chinchilla Road.
Police mounted a temporary road-block on the Wondai-Chinchilla Road about 2:00pm to advise motorists to be cautious as they passed the fire front.
Earlier, a QFES spokesman said the fire had been burning for some time and had been under control but broke through containment lines about 9:00am.
UPDATE 4:30pm: QFES advised the fire was contained at 4:05pm however fire crews will remain on site to monitor the situation.
I just can’t understand why a ‘reduction burn’ would have been conducted a) at 10 o’clock in the morning b) during one of the worst dry spells ever c) on an extremely hot day and b) in windy weather?
In times past, when land owners used to do most of their own control burns, they only lit up close to sundown in the evening. Generally, winds have died down by that time and one gets a cooler burn. However, I suppose we can’t do that in our 9 – 5 working hours. Or can we?