October 27, 2019
Firefighters rushed to Aerodrome Road at Taabinga on Sunday afternoon after a fire jumped the roadway and took off quickly across open grassland.
Emergency services were called to the blaze at 1:41pm.
At 2:15pm, the QFES issued a “Stay Informed” warning to local residents that a bushfire was in the area.
Smoke from the fire affected traffic as flames licked the edge of roads.
At one stage it was burning fiercely just across the road from houses on Kingaroy-Cooyar Road.
Aerodrome Road was closed to through traffic.
Local resident Ronni Eade told southburnett.com.au she wanted to give a “big shoutout” to the police and fire brigade for responding so quickly to the blaze.
“It didn’t start on side of the road. It started further in amongst the trees and high grass,” she said.
At 4:00pm, 18 fire units were still on the scene.
Firefighters stopped the flames from reaching buildings on the Kingaroy Clay Target club ground but couldn’t save bales of hale in a nearby paddock which are expected to smoulder for hours.
By 4:30pm, the fire had been contained and a QFES spokesperson said it was posing no threat to property.
However, crews would remain on scene to monitor the area and residents may be affected by a smoke haze into the evening.
* * *
At 5:30pm on Sunday, three fire crews had been despatched to a fire burning in Scotts Lane at Runnymede.
A smaller fire was also burning near Bellbird Road and Semgreens Road at Coolabunia.
[UPDATED]
[UPDATED}
Yesterday afternoon I was watching TV in my room. Because there was no smell of smoke, owing to the wind blowing in the opposite direction, I didn’t even know about the fire until I went down to the kitchen … and saw a fire truck right in front of my house.
I rushed outside, and several other units came on to my property as it gave good access to the fire which was now burning fiercely up through the Taabinga DPI reserve along my boundary fence.
This was really quick, and there was hardly any wind. It makes one realise just how FAST one can be trapped. I was lucky, because of the wind direction this time my place was spared, though it was very close, just two feet away from my fence.
I just want to say a HUGE HUGE thank you to the firies. Without them, I know my place would have been affected. We don’t think of these brave people until we need them. They do dangerous work.
I went down the back and thanked as many as I could, and it was hot and scary down there.
Last night there were still a few hot spots glowing, but this morning, a smoky haze has settled and it seems to be mostly out, with just a few spots, however vigilance is needed as wind is expected on Tuesday and we do not want a flare-up.