Winds blamed for fanning bushfires

Eloise Handley | 21st November 2009

HOT temperatures and winds have been blamed for re-igniting the fire which destroyed the former Mangan Bros Meatworks, fanning a vast bush fire at Gladfield.

Aerial shot of the Bourkes Road, Gladfield, fire which has been burning since Tuesday. (Photo made possible by Warwick Flying School)

HOT temperatures and blustery winds have been blamed for re-igniting the fire which destroyed the former Mangan Bros Meatworks on Tuesday night, fanning a vast bush fire at Gladfield and starting a blaze near Gore.

“The guys looked out and noticed smoke (from the former Mangan Bros slaughter yards now owned by John Dee). It flared up again on about 1pm Thursday,” John Dee director John Hart said.

“They got onto it pretty quickly so we’ve got a sprinkler on it now to cool down.

“The fire department came out and checked it out.”

Mr Hart said the final damage bill caused by the fire was “still under investigation”.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Geoff Doueal said Warwick was fanned by northerly winds blustering up to 28kmh yesterday.

“There was a moderate to high fire danger which will extend to the start of next week,” Mr Doueal said.

“We’re anticipating the temperature to hit 36 degrees today and it’ll stay like this until Tuesday so there’s no real relief in sight.”

High temperatures are not a good sign for fire fighters who are battling blazes at Gladfield and Briggs Road (between Gore and Karara).

“There’s a large fire that’s burning in an inaccessible area at Bourkes Road, Gladfield, which we’re monitoring,” A Queensland Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said.

“It’s been burning since Tuesday but it’s all under control with three rural crews (Allora, Gladfield and Bracker Forrest) there.”

The second blaze at Briggs Road was within containment lines at time of printing.

“The forestry guys are at that one and they’re continuing to parole and mop up the area,” the spokeswoman said.