Posted
Dry and gusty thunderstorms with the risk of
lightning strikes sparking new fires are forecast to tear through the
Darling Downs late this afternoon.
Key points:
- Lightning strikes and strong winds are expected to start new fires today
- Extra firefighting crews have been sent into the Darling Downs and Granite Belt
- Police are on the trail of the person suspected of starting fires in the Gold Coast hinterland deliberately
Fire authorities are warning that wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour are set to fan existing fires.
But the real danger was from high-voltage lighting strikes, which could set tinder-dry grazing land alight and create new spot fires.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Acting Chief Superintendent Kevin Reading said they were expecting new fires to be started by the storms "because of how dry the ground is".
"As the lightning strikes, the electricity has an element of heat to it so that heat could catch a piece of dry grass that has no moisture in it," he said."That starts small obviously, but as the wind increases you have got the fuel, you have got the oxygen and the ignition source — so that is what can start a fire."
Extra fire crews have been sent into the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, which is still reeling from bushfires that burned through farmland last week, destroying at least four homes in Applethorpe and Stanthorpe.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said temperatures today would hover around 30 degrees Celsius, with severe thunderstorms forecast to hit from around 5:00pm.
Senior forecaster David Crock said it would be a challenging day for firefighters on the Darling Downs.
For more information about Queensland's bushfire situation, listen live to ABC Local Radio in your area:
The high temperatures and "gusty erratic winds" could make conditions as dangerous for fires as they were across south-east Queensland last week.
"Most likely to be pretty dry with very little rain," Mr Crock said."The trough will move quickly and is likely to hit the coast around midnight tonight before it heads out to sea."
Over the weekend, 50 fires were still burning across the state, but an easing in conditions saw that number drop to 35 by Monday.
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Chief Superintendent Reading said the Sarabah blazes in the Gold Coast hinterland were causing firefighters the greatest concern because they were burning in inaccessible valleys.
The Sarabah fires have already destroyed 11 homes and five businesses, including the historic Binna Burra Lodge.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said arson was suspected and that officers were closing in on the culprits thanks to tip-offs from locals.
Authorities have spent the past few days strengthening containment lines around blazes across Queensland.
But all home owners are being urged to remain on high alert.
"Such an early start to the season and how dry it is, with low humidity from the border to the far north is pretty significant," Chief Superintendent Reading said.
"As the season moves along with no sign of rain, that fuel is so very dry on the ground, so we do expect a long season."
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