September 21, 2018
Firefighters continued to monitor a large fire burning in the Woolooga / Sexton areas on Thursday night.
The fire broke out about 9:30am on Wednesday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services downgraded the alert overnight but reinstated a “Watch and Act – Prepare To Leave” on Thursday morning as the fire headed towards Woolooga.
Firefighters had three waterbombing helicopters, 35 trucks, five bulldozers and more than 125 personnel at the scene during Thursday.
Five rural sheds are reported to have been destroyed and up to 30 buildings, including homes and a large cattle property, have been under threat.
Residents in Thomas Street, Woolooga, and students at Woolooga State School were evacuated on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
* * *
UPDATE at 4:20pm Friday
Bushfire warning level: ADVICE – STAY INFORMED
At 4:20pm, a bushfire is burning near Miva Road, Bauple-Woolooga Road, Edwards Road, Sexton Road, Lower Wide Bay Creek Road, Woolooga Road, Ormes Road, Edwards Road, Smith Road, Pie Creek Road, Oakview Road and Cogzell Road in the Woolooga and Sexton areas.
Crews will remain on scene overnight monitoring the fire and conducting backburning operations.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Properties are not under direct threat at this time.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
* * *
EARLIER:
UPDATE at 9:45am Friday
Bushfire warning level: ADVICE – STAY INFORMED
At 9:45am Friday, a bushfire is burning near Miva Road, Bauple Woolooga Road, Edwards Road, Sexton Road, Lower Wide Bay Creek Road, Woolooga Road, Ormes Road, Edwards Road, Smith Road, Pie Creek Road, Oakview Road and Cogzell Road in the Woolooga and Sexton areas.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Properties are not under direct threat at this time.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
* * *
UPDATE: At 11:35pm Thursday
Bushfire warning level: ADVICE – STAY INFORMED
At 11:35pm, the fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Crews will be monitoring the fire and conducting backburning operations throughout the night.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
The next update will be provided when the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 9:40pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 9:40pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
The fire is currently impacting Bauple-Woolooga Road, Brooyar Road, Ormes Road, Miva Road, Sexton Road and Lower Wide Bay Road in the Woolooga / Sexton area.
Smoke is likely to impact Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
The next update will be provided by 11:40pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 7:40pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 7:40pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
The fire is currently impacting Bauple-Woolooga Road, Brooyar Road, Ormes Road, Miva Road, Sexton Road and Lower Wide Bay Road in the Woolooga / Sexton area.
The fire is likely to impact Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
Crews will be conducting extensive backburning operations throughout the night and request the public avoid the area where possible to ensure their own safety and the safety of crews.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
The next update will be provided by 9:40pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 5:25pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 5:25pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
The fire is currently impacting Bauple-Woolooga Road, Brooyar Road, Ormes Road, Miva Road, Sexton Road and Lower Wide Bay Road in the Woolooga / Sexton area.
The fire is likely to impact Miva, Theebine, Scotchy Pocket and Gunalda.
Firefighters are working with aerial support to contain the fire and protect structures, but firefighters may not be able to protect every property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
Crews will be conducting extensive backburning operations throughout the night and request the public avoid the area where possible to ensure their own safety and the safety of crews.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
The next update will be provided by 7:25pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 4:50pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 4:50pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards the Woolooga township, Miva Road, Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket.
The fire is currently impacting Bauple-Woolooga Road, Brooyar Road, Ormes Road, Miva Road, Sexton Road and Lower Wide Bay Road in the Woolooga / Sexton area.
The fire is likely to impact the Woolooga township, Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket.
Firefighters are working with aerial support to contain the fire and protect structures, but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
Crews will be conducting extensive backburning operations throughout the night and request the public avoid the area where possible to ensure their own safety and the safety of crews.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
* * *
UPDATE: At 3:35pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 3:35pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in an north-easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards the Woolooga township, Miva Road, Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket.
The fire is currently impacting Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga, Sexton Road at Sexton and Ormes Road, Sexton.
The fire is likely to impact the Woolooga township, Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket.
Firefighters are working with aerial support to contain the fire and protect structures, but firefighters may not be able to protect every property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
* * *
UPDATE: At 1:25pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 1:25pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in an easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket, north of the Wide Bay Highway.
The fire is currently impacting Boowoogum Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga, and Sexton Road at Sexton, north of the Wide Bay Highway.
The fire is likely to impact Miva, Theebine and Scotchy Pocket.
Firefighters are working with aerial support to contain the fire and protect structures, but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
The next update will be provided by 3:25pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 12:50pm Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE: Woolooga / Sexton
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advises there is a bushfire in Woolooga and Sexton and conditions could get worse.
You need to be ready to follow your bushfire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, or intend to leave, you should be ready to leave the area because the situation could get worse quickly.
At 12.50pm, a fast-moving and unpredictable fire is travelling in an easterly direction from west of Bauple-Woolooga Road at Woolooga towards Sexton Road at Sexton, north of the Wide Bay Highway.
The fire is currently impacting Pike Road, Boowoogum Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road north of the Wide Bay Highway at Woolooga.
The fire is likely to impact Sexton Road at Sexton.
Firefighters are working with aerial support to contain the fire and protect structures, but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
The next update will be provided by 2:50pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 11:25am Thursday
PREPARE TO LEAVE:
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
At 11:25am, an unpredictable fire is burning in inaccessible country west of the Woolooga township.
The fire is travelling in an easterly direction toward Bauple-Woolooga Road, the intersection of Bauple-Woolooga Road and Brooweena-Woolooga Road, and south to the Wide Bay Highway, including the Woolooga township.
This fire has multiple fronts and is likely to impact properties at Cahill Drive, Bauple-Woolooga Road, the intersection of Bauple-Woolooga Road and Brooweena-Woolooga Road, and south to the Wide Bay Highway, including the Woolooga township.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
The next update will be provided by 1:25pm or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 9:45am Thursday
At 10:30am, there were 14 fire units on scene, and another 13 on the way.
QFES has re-instated the PREPARE TO LEAVE warning for residents in the Woolooga area.
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
QFES advises conditions could get worse.
You need to be ready to follow your bushfire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, or intend to leave, you should be ready to leave the area because the situation could get worse quickly.
At 9:45am, a fire is burning in inaccessible country 2km west of the Woolooga township and is travelling in a north-easterly direction toward Smith Road and Wide Bay Creek at the rear of the Woolooga township.
The fire is likely to impact properties located on Smith Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road to the Woolooga township.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
The next update will be provided by 11:45am or if the situation changes.
* * *
UPDATE: At 8:22pm Wednesday
Bushfire warning level: ADVICE
At 8:22pm, the fire was travelling from Smith Road, Woolooga, towards Cogzell Road, Oakview.
Firefighters will continue conducting backburning operations throughout the night.
No properties are under direct threat at this time.
* * *
UPDATE: At 7:00pm Wednesday
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT – PREPARE TO LEAVE
The Woolooga fire is travelling in a southerly direction from Smith Road, Woolooga towards Cogzell Road, Oakview and the Wide Bay Highway.
Fire crews are conducting backburning operations in an effort to contain the blaze but firefighters may not be able to protect every property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
* * *
UPDATE: At 4:45pm Wednesday
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT – PREPARE TO LEAVE
The Woolooga fire is travelling in a southerly direction from Smith Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road towards the community of Woolooga.
The fire is likely to impact Smith Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road.
Waterbombing operations are being conducted in the area.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
* * *
EARLIER:
Residents have been warned to prepare to leave in the wake of a large fire burning in the vicinity of Brooweena-Woolooga Road at Woolooga.
A “Watch and Act – Prepare to Leave” alert (see below) was issued at 2:00pm on Wednesday.
The fire was travelling from the intersection of Brooweena-Woolooga Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road in a southerly direction towards the community of Woolooga.
The fire is likely to impact areas between the intersection of Brooweena-Woolooga Road and Bauple-Woolooga Road and the Wide Bay Highway, Woolooga.
At 2:00pm, 16 QFES crews were on the scene as well as Queensland Parks and Wildlife crews.
Water bombers were also dropping loads on the fire.
The fire was reported to emergency services about 9:30am.
Fire crews were protecting local homes and other structures.
At noon, QFES reported the fire was travelling in a southerly direction towards the Wide Bay Highway.
* * *
PREPARE TO LEAVE:
Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
• Listen to your local radio station or visit the Rural Fire Service (RFS) website for regular updates.
• If you have a bushfire survival plan, finalise it now so you are ready to follow it.
• If you do not have a bushfire survival plan, or if your plan is to leave, identify where you will go if you leave the area.
• Advise family and friends of your plan.
• Close windows and doors to minimise smoke exposure.
• If you suffer from a respiratory condition, keep your medication close by.
• Drive with caution in low-visibility conditions.
• Contact your neighbours to see if they need help preparing for the bushfire.
• Pack important documents and essential items (eg. passports, birth certificates, prescription medication, food and water, and protective clothing) in case you need to leave the area.
• Put on protective clothing (eg. a long-sleeved cotton shirt, boots with thick soles).
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Bring pets inside; restrain them with a leash, a cage, or inside a secure room; and provide them with plenty of water.
• Take action to protect your livestock.
• Move flammable materials such as doormats, wheelie bins, and outdoor furniture away from your house.
• Fill containers such as your bath, sinks, and buckets with water so you have access to drinking water and firefighting water.
• Close windows and doors, sealing the gaps under doors and screens with wet towels to keep smoke out of the house.
KEEP UP TO DATE BY:
• Following QFES on Facebook (@QldFireandRescueService) and Twitter (@QldFES)
• Staying tuned to your local radio station
• Visiting the Rural Fire Service website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map
FURTHER INFORMATION:
• For bushfire preparation tips, visit the RFS website: www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/BushFire_Safety
• For information about road closures, call 13-19-40 or visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au
[UPDATED Published earlier as “Woolooga Fire: Prepare To Leave”]
