November 13, 2019
The bushfire warning for a large blaze burning in the Pechey / Ravensbourne area was lowered to Watch and Act on Friday evening.
Earlier in the day, QFES was warning residents to leave immediately.
At 6:20pm on Friday, the fire was travelling easterly from Grapetree Road at Pechey towards Ravensbourne.
Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft worked to the contain the fire during the day.
Esk-Hampton Road was closed for several hours but has now been re-opened.
Residents who left the area have been advised it is now safe to return.
* * *
On Friday . . .
From QFES at 6:20pm
PREPARE TO LEAVE. Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
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.
The bushfire is travelling in an easterly direction from Grapetree Road at Pechey towards Ravensbourne. It is likely to impact Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road, Mount Jockey Road and McQuillan Road.
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.
Esk-Hampton Road is open and those who have left the area are advised it is now safe to return.
Residents should be aware that road closures remain in place at Purtil Road, McQuillan Road and Garvey Road.
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.
* * *
From QFES at 3:55pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
Follow your bushfire survival plan now.
If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
A fast-moving fire is travelling in an easterly direction from Grapetree Road at Peachey towards Ravensbourne. It is likely to impact Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road, Mount Jockey Road and McQuillan Road.
Traffic restrictions may be in place on Esk-Hampton Road, however those leaving the area will be allowed through and can continue to travel south-west along Esk-Hampton Road to take the New England Highway south towards Toowoomba.
An evacuation centre is in place at the Highfields Indoor Sports Centre on O’Brien Road, Highfields.
Those leaving the area with animals, such as horses, should head south-west along Esk-Hampton Road and take the New England Highway north to the Crows Nest Showgrounds.
Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft continue to work to the contain the fire, but conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.
Fire crews may not be able to protect your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 1:45pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so.
If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
A fast-moving fire is travelling in an easterly direction from Grapetree Road at Peachey towards Ravensbourne. It is likely to impact Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road, Mount Jockey Road and McQuillan Road.
People leaving the area should head south-west along Esk Hampton Road and take the New England Highway south towards Toowoomba.
An evacuation centre is now opened at the Highfields Indoor Sports Centre on O’Brien Road at Highfields.
Those leaving the area with animals, such as horses, should head south-west along Esk Hampton Road and take the New England Highway north to the Crows Nest Showgrounds.
Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to the contain the fire, but conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.
Fire crews may not be able to protect your property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 12:50pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises there is a bushfire approaching Ravensbourne.
Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive (see What You Should Do, below).
Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
A fast-moving fire is travelling in an easterly direction from Grapetree Road at Pechey towards Ravensbourne.
It is likely to impact Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road, Mount Jockey Road and McQuillan Road.
Fire crews and waterbombing aircraft are working to the contain the fire, but conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.
Fire crews may not be able to protect your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
People leaving the area should head south-west along Esk-Hampton Road towards Toowoomba.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 12:10pm
PREPARE TO LEAVE. Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
A fast-moving fire is travelling in an easterly direction from Grapetree Road towards Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road and Mount Jockey Road.
The fire is likely to impact Grapetree Road, Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road and Mount Jockey Road.
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.
* * *
On Thursday . . .
From QFES at 7:05am
STAY INFORMED. Bushfire warning level: ADVICE
A slow-moving fire is burning in a westerly direction between Pechey and Hampton, and is travelling towards Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road, Pechey Forestry Road, Misty Mountain Road and the New England Highway.
QFES and HQ Plantations crews continue to patrol the area and monitor the situation. Firefighting aircraft will be operating in the area throughout the day.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
The New England Highway, which was previously closed north of Munro Road, has reopened.
Those who had evacuated the area are advised it is now safe to return.
* * *
On Wednesday . . .
From QFES at 11:00pm
LEAVE NOW. Bushfire warning level: WATCH AND ACT
The fire is travelling in a westerly direction between Pechey and Hampton. It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road, Pechey Forestry Road, Misty Mountain Road and the New England Highway in the coming hours. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.
The New England Highway which was previously closed north of Munro Road has now reopened.
QFES crews will remain on scene overnight conducting backburning operations and patrols.
Residents evacuating should travel south along the New England Highway towards an evacuation centre which has been established at Highfields Indoor Sports Centre, O’Brien Road, Highfields.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 7:25pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
QFES advises there is a bushfire approaching Pechey. Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so.
If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire (see What You Should Do, below).
If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
The fast-moving fire is travelling in a westerly direction between Pechey and Hampton. It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road, Pechey Forestry Road, Misty Mountain Road and the New England Highway in the coming hours.
The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.
The New England Highway is currently closed to the north of Munro Road.
Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path. Fire crews may not be able to protect your property.
You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
Residents evacuating should travel south along the New England Highway towards an evacuation centre which has been established at Highfields Indoor Sports Centre, O’Brien Road, Highfields.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 5:10pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
QFES advises there is a bushfire approaching Pechey. Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire (see What You Should Do, below).
If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
A fast-moving fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction between Pechey and Hampton. It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road and Pechey Forestry Road, Pechey in the coming hours. The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.
Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.
Fire crews may not be able to protect your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door: act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
Residents evacuating should travel along the New England Highway towards an evacuation centre which has been established at Highfields Indoor Sports Centre, O’Brien Road, Highfields.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
From QFES at 3:20pm
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Bushfire warning level: EMERGENCY WARNING
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advises there is a bushfire approaching Pechey.
Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
Follow your bushfire survival plan now. If you do not have a plan, your safest option is to leave immediately if it is clear to do so. If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. If you are not in the area, do not return, as conditions are too dangerous.
A fast-moving fire is travelling in a north-easterly direction between Pechey and Hampton. It is expected to impact Deeth Road, Lanyon Road, Williams Road and Pechey Forestry Road, Pechey within the next hour.
The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community.
Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing.
The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path.
Fire crews may not be able to protect your property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door: Act now.
Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous over the next several hours.
Residents evacuating should travel along the New England Highway towards an evacuation centre which has been established at Highfields Sport and Recreation Park, 220 Barracks Road, Highfields.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
* * *
EARLIER:
The pilot of a helicopter involved in waterbombing operations at a bushfire burning near Pechey suffered minor injuries when his aircraft made a hard landing.
QAS Darling Downs senior operations supervisor Mark Hancock said emergency services were called to the incident about 1:50pm on Wednesday afternoon.
The helicopter came down hard in the Pechey State Forest area and then flipped on to its side.
Mr Hancock said the male pilot – the sole person on board – was assessed at the scene by paramedics and then transported by road ambulance to Toowoomba Hospital.
The helicopter is believed to be part of a fleet operated by McDermott Aviation.
It was badly damaged in the incident.
At 12:40am, the Pechey fire was burning in bushland in the vicinity of Grapetree Road, Misty Mountain Road and Bush Road.
QFES crews were conducting backburning operations but the fire was contained.
[UPDATED. Originally published as “Helicopter Pilot Injured”]
* * *
What You Should Do
- Listen to your local radio station or visit the Rural Fire Service website for regular updates.
- Put on protective clothing (eg. a long-sleeved cotton shirt, boots with thick soles).
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- If you suffer from a respiratory condition, keep your medication close by.
If you are leaving:
- Secure your pets for safe transport.
- Check for road closures and then advise family and friends of your intended travel route.
- Take your important documents and essential items (eg. passports, birth certificates, prescription medication, food and water, and protective clothing) when you leave.
- Drive with caution in low-visibility conditions.
If you are unable to leave:
- Bring pets inside; restrain them with a leash, a cage, or inside a secure room; and provide them with plenty of water.
- 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.
- Identify a safe spot to shelter in, which would be a place with more than one exit, preferably inside a brick building, away from windows and doors. The safest spot is the place that will keep you furthest away from the intense heat from the fire. As the fire approaches and passes, the safest spot will change, so be ready to move.
Keep up to date by:
- Following QFES on Facebook (@QldFireandEmergencyServices) and Twitter (@QldFES)
- Staying tuned to your local ABC radio station.
- Visiting the Rural Fire Service website
