Dozens of wildfires are currently blazing across New South Wales and Queensland, with a particularly fierce inferno wreaking havoc in southern Queensland, claiming two lives and consuming 16 homes. This devastating blaze is now on the cusp of containment, but authorities remain vigilant, as they face “extreme fire danger” with approximately 60 fires still ablaze throughout the state.
In New South Wales, a robust response involving over 1,000 personnel has been initiated to combat major bushfires in several regions, with 55 fires yet to be subdued among the 110 reported in the state.
Residents of Tara, located west of Brisbane, remain displaced, although some inhabitants in the southern vicinity have received clearance to return cautiously. Those residing northeast of Tara in Kogan have been advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
The Western Downs region, ravaged by the fire, was the somber discovery of an unidentified body on Tuesday night, alongside the tragic passing of a 73-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack while evacuating her property.
A sudden shift in wind and a light drizzle on Wednesday seemed to bring respite to exhausted firefighters. However, the flicker of hope was short-lived as lightning strikes ignited five new blazes, further complicating the firefighting efforts.
Tara now has a recovery plan in place, with firefighting teams expressing confidence in fully containing the expansive blaze, which has scorched more than 11,000 hectares by Thursday night. Simultaneously, more than 40 crews have been deployed to reinforce containment, while others grapple with a nearby conflagration sparked by a lightning strike.
Apprehensions lingered that the fires might encroach upon Tara, necessitating the relocation of hundreds of evacuees to Dalby and Chinchilla on Wednesday. In this endeavor, approximately 239 evacuees were transferred to Dalby, and an additional 28 found shelter in Chinchilla. With a total of 34 water-bombing aircraft and nearly 150 firefighters on the front lines, these perilous situations are being fiercely combated.
Meanwhile, a fire in the Darling Downs region of the southwest, scorching roughly 3,000 hectares and claiming a house, has been successfully contained. Nevertheless, threats persist for Undullah, located southwest of Brisbane, and Mutchilba in north Queensland, where residents have been urgently advised to seek shelter.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a southerly change that will usher in cooler conditions across western Queensland, albeit accompanied by strong, gusty winds, which may heighten fire danger in the days ahead.
In New South Wales, an emergency warning was issued for a blaze in the Nymboida area, located 30 kilometers southwest of Grafton, as erratic fire behavior was exacerbated by adverse weather conditions. Firefighters are working diligently to establish containment lines for the bushfire that still rages out of control, having consumed more than 3,475 hectares.
Additional fires of concern include a 1,600-hectare blaze on Thunderbolts Way near Gloucester and a fire that has seared through 1,470 hectares of national park east of Tenterfield.
Angela Burford, operational officer with the NSW Rural Fire Service, noted that the number of fires escalated due to storm conditions, with lightning strikes resulting in new fire outbreaks across northeastern NSW, including the Tamworth region.
Several fires in the Kempsey region’s western vicinity are also under close scrutiny. In Willi Willi National Park and its surrounding areas, a fire has scorched more than 29,500 hectares but is now under control.
The critical situation in these regions underscores the ongoing threat posed by wildfires in Australia and the dedicated efforts of firefighters working tirelessly to safeguard lives and property.