The pilot of a water bombing helicopter has walked away with minor injuries after crash landing while battling a blaze at Pechey, west of Brisbane.
Key points:
- Queensland’s firefighters are most concerned about the Darling Downs, Scenic Rim and Granite Belt regions
- More than 80 fires are burning around Queensland
- Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to return by the weekend
Paramedics said the helicopter, operated by McDermott Aviation, “landed heavily” just before 2:00pm.
The pilot, who is in his 70s, has been taken to Toowoomba Hospital in a stable condition.
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the incident is unfortunate but has not hampered any fire fighting efforts.
“We’re very thankful to those skilled pilots who go out there and help us control fires when need be and our thoughts are with all concerned,” he said.
Conditions are worsening in parts of Queensland following an unfavourable wind change, with more than 80 fires burning around the state.
Three communities have been told to leave immediately, Pechey, Kilkivan — west of Gympie — and those living on the Noosa North Shore, where a bushfire burning near Beach Road “could have a significant impact on the community”.
Another nine “watch and act” warnings are in place for other fires burning across the state.
Water bombing aircraft were attempting to extinguish the Noosa North Shore blaze while firefighters attacked it from the ground.
Leesa Downey manages the local campground and raced from Gympie in a bid to protect her property but was stopped by police.
“I was on my way over there but I was five minutes too late,” she said.
“The campground is closed for renovations at the moment but all our furniture and everything is stored over there.
“It is just watching the smoke get worse and wondering exactly how close it is to my house is a bit concerning. But we just have to wait and see and hope,” she said.
Craig Studwick was evacuated this morning from his Noosa North Shore home for the second time in just a matter of days.
He said he was worried for his home and belongings.
“But as long as you’ve got your family and everything you need, you just get out, got the kids and animals, and photos are all downloaded, everything else is replaceable.”
Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington said it was incredibly frustrating.
“I’m sorry to say it’s the third fire that has started up on North Shore, so I’m told this morning, which might lead one to assume that it wasn’t an act of nature shall we say,” Councillor Wellington said.
The threat from a fire close to the highway at Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, has been downgraded.
At 3:00pm it was burning near Reisers Road and George Street, to the west of the Pacific Motorway.
It is understood the Beenleigh Marketplace was evacuated as a precaution.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned there was an unfavourable wind change this afternoon, with a dry gusty wind now sweeping west, south-westerly across the Darling Downs, parts of the south-east coast, and up to Wide Bay and Burnett districts.
PHOTO: Smoke in the hills surrounding Spicers Peak Lodge on Queensland’s Scenic Rim. (ABC News)
There is a severe fire danger in those areas, and pockets of possible extreme conditions have been foreshadowed for the far east of the Darling Downs and western Lockyer Valley.
Authorities also reminded locals the Cunningham Highway has been closed.
Staff at the five-star Spicers Peak Lodge resort on Queensland’s Southern Downs evacuated this morning as a bushfire approached. Guests were asked to leave on Monday.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.VIDEO: Plane dumps water on fire at Lake Mary (ABC News)
“We’re hopeful that the buildings will be protected but sadly it’ll be the loss of wildlife and the flora there on this beautiful property … we also have 600 head of cattle there as well,” he said.
Weather conditions making things difficult
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Victoria Dodds said weather conditions were making things difficult for firefighters.
“We’ve got really hot, we’ve got really dry and got really windy conditions in some places, temperatures are going to be six to eight degrees above average, and this is all ahead of a wind change,” she said.
“It’s that wind change today that’s really adding real complexity to the forecast and it will make conditions really challenging for our firefighters on the ground.
“Tomorrow there’s a bit of an easing in the situation … but nevertheless, we don’t have any significant rainfall on the horizon.
“So, particularly with that complex wind change today, it’s really important to keep up to date with the latest weather forecasts.”
Source: ABC News Australia
