{"id":376263,"date":"2026-09-23T23:09:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=376263"},"modified":"2026-09-23T23:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:09:19","slug":"threat-eases-but-fire-still-burning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/09\/23\/threat-eases-but-fire-still-burning\/","title":{"rendered":"Threat Eases But Fire Still Burning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A waterbombing helicopter prepares to drop a load on flames still burning in the gully behind Wild Deer Drive at Teelah on Wednesday afternoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 23, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fire emergency in the Teelah area eased further on Wednesday, with the Queensland Fire Department’s alert level dropping to “STAY INFORMED” in the early evening.<\/p>\n

The alert warned residents the fire could continue burning near Stretton Drive for days so residents should stay informed because the situation could change.<\/p>\n

Both Rural Fire Service and urban crews were in action all day at the fireground which extended, between Wild Deer Drive and Stretton Drive.<\/p>\n

Smoke was rising from the gullies behind houses along the ridge tops.<\/p>\n

Some fire crews were working to strengthen containment lines and targeting still-smouldering logs while others were conducting an extensive backburning operation along one flank of the area.<\/p>\n

Waterbombing helicopters were also in action, dropping loads on outbreaks in the gullies behind houses, directed by spotter aircraft.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday evening, there were still 13 fire units at the incident with local rural crews joined by units from across the Wide Bay Burnett District.<\/p>\n

QFD Damage Assessment teams were expected to visit the fireground on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Wattle Camp and Taromeo rural brigade trucks at the staging area in Wild Deer Drive on Wednesday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A Wattle Camp RFB volunteer sprang into action when a smouldering log near a fence line suddenly burst into flames<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A fire was burning on Wednesday afternoon behind houses in Stretton Drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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More rural brigade vehicles and a water tanker at the staging area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Operational Capability Co-ordinator Alex Black, who is usually based in Maryborough, was controlling activities on the fireground from the temporary HQ set up in the staging area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Blackbutt Benarkin Lions Club was supporting the fire crews with sandwiches and refreshments … Lions member Judy Campbell with Operations Officer Stephen Oliver; Lions have also provided meals and breakfasts for the firefighters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Moore Linville RFB volunteers Keiran Biddle and 4th officer Steve Walker … the brigade has had volunteers in action at Teelah for two days<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Debris beside Stretton Drive … whatever this was has been destroyed in the fire; QFD Damage Assessment teams will be visiting the area on Thursday to confirm what losses have occurred<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This Ergon Energy electricity pole was damaged by the flames but remained standing in Stretton Drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Flames jumped across Stretton Drive and went up the hill to within metres of houses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Backburning and urgent work by firefighters protected houses in Wild Deer Drive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The South Burnett Local Disaster Management Group organised a community meeting at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall on Wednesday night.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was well-attended with about 20 local residents briefed by firefighters and Council staff.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff thanked the firefighters for the fabulous job they were doing, and urged residents to continue following the Current Warnings<\/a><\/strong> page on the Queensland Fire Department website and the South Burnett Disaster Dashboard<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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At the Community Meeting at Blackbutt Memorial Hall on Wednesday evening …\u00a0 Mayor Kathy Duff and Deputy Mayor Linda Little pore over maps of the fire ground (Photos: Jane Erkens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Earlier in the day, QFRS Incident Controller David Sewell updated the media at the Kingaroy Incident Control Centre about the Teelah fire.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said the volunteers from the Rural Fire Service and the Queensland Fire & Rescue staff had done an amazing job protecting residences.<\/p>\n

Queensland Police had been doorknocking residents throughout Tuesday to alert them to the danger.<\/p>\n

He said one caravan had been lost in the blaze while some outbuildings had also been damaged.<\/p>\n

The approximate size of the incident (at 11:30am Wednesday) was 400ha.<\/p>\n

He said fire crews had come from the Fraser Coast, Cooloola and Gympie areas, the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley. More crews were expected from Bundaberg on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Mr Sewell said it was undetermined at this stage how the Teelah fire started but investigators would determine the origin of the fire.<\/p>\n

He urged people to have a Bushfire Survival Plan<\/a><\/strong> as a bare minimum.<\/p>\n

Residents were urged to monitor the Queensland Fire Department’s Facebook page<\/a><\/strong>, the Current Warnings<\/a><\/strong> page and listen to ABC Local Radio.<\/p>\n

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Acting Sergeant Cameron Knust, from Kingaroy Police, with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and QFRS Incident Controller David Sewell in Kingaroy on Wednesday morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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