Catastrophic bushfire conditions forecast for parts of southern Queensland
There will be extreme to locally catastrophic fire danger conditions in the Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Maranoa and Warrego today, the Queensland Rural Fire Service (QRFS) has said, while residents near Sarabah in the Gold Coast hinterland are being told to prepare to leave.
Residents near Sarabah in the Gold Coast hinterland are being told to prepare to leave their homes It would only be the second time a catastrophic fire danger rating had been declared — the first was in November last year when fierce bushfires ravaged central Queensland.
In Far North Queensland, a home has been destroyed and several more threatened in a large and fast-moving blaze that broke out in Biboohra, north of Mareeba, during the hottest part of the day.
An aerial water bomber and 19 crews are battling that fire, which has been estimated to have burnt more than 300 acres of land in the area.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesman Darryl Chaplain confirmed a home had been lost in the blaze.
"We did hear that the owner was returning back to his residence when he was informed of the loss," he said.
"Unfortunately there was nothing anybody could do to soften that blow."
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-05/bushfire-catastrophic-risk-darling-downs-granite-belt-maranoa/11480334
