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Emergency fire warning called for areas of southwest Queensland

The warning encourages residents to leave immediately.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have told residents to evacuate after issuing an emergency warning for areas of southwest Queensland this morning.

The warning encourages residents to “leave immediately” because their life could be “at risk”.

No injuries have been reported, but the two dangerous bushfires in Tara and Kogan destroyed several structures.

The previous emergency warning for the towns of Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs has been downgraded to a Watch and Act, however it is still not safe to return.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Superintendent, Peter Bradow, told the ABC that the extent of the damage was still being assessed.

“Crews have been working through the night around properties that were defendable with the assistance of heavy plant, dozers and graders,” he said.

Temperatures are set to reach 36 degrees on Tuesday, making conditions challenging for firefighters.

Queensland Rural Fire Service Chief Superintendent Tony Johnstone told Sunrise that the warnings are to make sure residents are safe so the firefighters can concentrate on resolving the fires.

“Our firefighters are finding it difficult to combat the fire at the moment because of the terrain, because of the hot, dry climate,” he said.

Waterbombing aircrafts have been brought in to help fight the fires.

A total fire ban was issued at 10:22am Tuesday which will run until 1:00am Wednesday for the areas of Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett, South Burnett and Cherbourg.

There are over 20 bushfire warnings issued for Queensland overall.


PHOTO: Bush fire at Captain Creek central Queensland Australia is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons licence. This photo has not been modified.

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