September 24, 2026
The Teelah fire was burning safely behind containment lines on Thursday morning, despite a minor flare-up on the north-east corner of the incident.
QFD Incident Controller David Sewell said waterbombing helicopters had been called back in on Thursday morning to make some drops and the flare-up had been controlled.
He said fire crews were continuing to monitor, control and mop-up across the Teelah fireground.
The total area burnt since Monday was just over 500ha (at 11:30am Thursday) which had been a significant area for firefighters to manage.
Damage assessment teams were working through the area, but no further losses had been reported.
“We would like to thank all our crews, the volunteers who have come from far and wide … and all the other supporting agencies, police and ambulance. And a big shout out to the Blackbutt Lions Club who have been feeding all the crews there around the clock,” Mr Sewell said.
State Emergency Service volunteers had also been helping with support and doorknocking.
There was good news on Thursday morning, with the QFD’s alert status lowered to “RETURN WITH CAUTION” at 9:35am.
And South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff said the South Burnett Local Disaster Management Group had also lowered its status to “STAND DOWN”; a decision would be made now about recovery operations.
At 11:30am on Thursday, there were there 18 firefighters, nine appliances and three aircraft still in action at the incident.
There were two strike teams engaged: a QFRS mixed team from Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast; and an RFS team from Bundaberg.
Waterbombing helicopters, contracted from Queensland-based McDermott Aviation, had made literally hundreds of drops over the past four days to assist fire crews on the ground.
The Teelah fire is expected to continue burning for several days.
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