Fire threatens properties

Nikita Watts | 20th July 2009

FOR the second time in less than a week, firefighters struggled to protect homes and businesses threatened by raging bush fires.

BATTLING THE FLAMES: Eighteen fire officers and seven urban and rural trucks were needed to control the fire on the outskirts of Rockhampton on Saturday.

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Fire rips through Alton Downs

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FOR the second time in less than a week,firefighters struggled to protect homes and businesses threatened by raging bush fires.

After seven demountable homes were destroyed by fire in Gracemere on Thursday, attention switched to the outskirts of Rockhampton on Saturday where flames threatened to overwhelm a home and the Rockhampton Clay Target Shooting Club.

A Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the fire started as a controlled burn about 3.30pm but flames jumped the permitted zone on Edminstone Road some time later.

Alton Downs Rural Fire Brigade first officer Owen Buckle, said 18 fire officers and seven urban and rural trucks were needed to control the fire as it approached the properties.

Mr Buckle said officers conducted some fire breaks and back-burning to protect the buildings.

“We made the area safe around the house; no other structures were at risk,” he said yesterday.

“We went back again this morning to conduct another small back-burn to make sure it was completely safe and wasn't going to spread any further than it already had.”

Mr Buckle yesterday said the 50-hectare area took officers about six hours to control and was still smouldering yesterday.

“But the area is under control and safe,” he said.

Target shooter Mark Warnock was at the club house when the fire started.

He said the fire came close to the boundary of the club but was under control by the fire officers.

“It was no great risk to us at all; it was perfectly under control,” he said.

“We knew it was happening ... the flames were about two foot high, that's about it.”

Mr Warnock said they were not evacuated and all permits were in place.

“It's no great blue. I've seen a lot worse.”

Mr Buckle warned people to be careful about tossing items such as cigarette butts from car windows as there was a lot of fuel in the area.

“Make sure you contact the local brigade for a permit to do your own controlled burn. They will be more than happy to help,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has increased the Wildfire Alert Level to 2 for the Gladstone and Rockhampton regional council and Banana Shire areas.

The alert levels take into consideration the fire danger rating index, fire activity, fuel loads, fire history and local knowledge in the area, seasonal developments and potential risk to the community, with four being the highest alert level.

The regional manager of rural operations for central region, Superintendent John Fisher, said the areas had an abundant fuel load and an increased level of fire activity over the last month.