Nervous Ross hopes for bushfire miracle

Ross Moore sits with his birds which he fled with.

Adam Wratten

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Rockhampton bushfire

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ROSS Moore can do nothing but sit and wait to find out if his Cooper Street home has been destroyed by fire.

His home is less than a couple of hundred metres away, but he can’t have a look because its one of many closed because of today’s Rockhampton fires.

Authorities fear the fire has damaged power lines in the street and Ergon crews are working hard to make the area safe.

It's early evening and it could be hours before the road is re-opened.

Ross is one of hundreds of people outside the Lakes Creek Hotel.

Sitting aside a car and trailer packed with family possessions, including the pet bird and dog, Vegemite, Ross spoke about his fears.

The last he saw of his home was when he raced out as the flames were roaring towards the house.

“We left just after 3pm when the flames were flooding towards us,” Ross said.

“They came out of nowhere.

“I was watching it and it sounded like a freight train coming.

“Now I just have to watch and wait.”

Those gathered around the hotel described flames more than 20foot high roaring towards Cooper Street and across the Lakes Creek School area, which was burnt out although the unconfirmed reports were that the building wasn’t badly damaged.

Ross said when the wind changed spot fires preceded the main front.

“It came so quickly,” he said.

“I think there are still some people up there.”

Ross only moved to the home in July.

He had packed his car and trailer earlier this morning.

View the latest bushfire report here: http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/news/

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