Bushfire may have been deliberately lit

A “terrifying” bushfire that destroyed a home in central Queensland may have been deliberately lit, authorities say, as up to 50 fires burn across the state.

The unoccupied property was lost at Lakes Creek in the Mt Archer area, east of Rockhampton, in a bushfire that has been burning in Mt Archer National Park for several days.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson  described the fire, which moved with erratic winds, as  “terrifying”.Hundreds of residents of Frenchville, Koongal, Lakes Creek and  other areas of Mt Archer were told to evacuate their homes on the  fringes of the national park if it was safe to do so on Saturday  afternoon.

The fire service expected structures to be lost and “strongly  advised” residents to leave the area.

Mr Johnson said the blaze could have been deliberately lit.“We do have suspicions about its origin, but at this stage we  can't pinpoint it exactly,” he told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

Acting Premier Andrew Fraser said it was remarkable that more  homes were not lost.

“There is every reason for all of us to be hugely grateful for the fantastic efforts of the fire service and the volunteers in central Queensland,” Mr Fraser said.

“It is a miracle that more homes weren't lost.”

Mr Fraser urged people to observe the fire bans in place and  said that because conditions were so dry, any spark could start a  major blaze.

With up to 50 fires burning around the state and 27 days  straight of firefighting, crews were already being pushed to the  limits, he said.

“We need to absolutely reinforce to everybody that this is a  situation in many parts of the state that does not need another  idiot to start another fire,” Mr Fraser said.

Water bombing and backburning will continue in the Mt Archer  area on Sunday, and reinforcements have been sent from Brisbane.

Arrangements are also being made for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to relieve Queensland crews this week if necessary.

Other serious fires around the state include blazes in the  Bundaberg and Maryborough hinterlands, but no homes there are  threatened.

A third of the state is under fire bans until midnight Monday, October 19, which may be extended if dangerous fire conditions  continue.

Read more ...

It will be a long day

Bushfire update Rockhampton

Police door knock 17 homes

Homes safe but fires still loom

Twenty fires keep Qld crews busy

Bushfire emergency declared