Queensland experiencing fires of unprecedented fury, similar to California’s wildfires

Qld fires compared to deadly US blazes The Queensland fires have been compared to the infernos that recently decimated California. News com.au, Staff reporters, Australian Associated Press, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Almost 10,000 Queenslanders are being forced to flee to shelter as wildfires fanned by catastrophic conditions bear down on their communities.

Firefighters in Queensland are battling almost 140 wildfires, with the worst in central Queensland in destructive conditions that have been compared to those that fanned the infernos that recently decimated California.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered and 37 schools closed amid a new blaze near Rockhampton and monster one farther south that’s already razed at least four homes and scorched tens of thousands of hectares of bush and farmland.

A large fire sparked shortly before 3pm on Wednesday has since raced towards Gracemere, prompting authorities to order a mandatory complete evacuation of the 8000 people in the area.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart told people not to panic but make for the Rockhampton showgrounds around 14km away, where an evacuation centre has been set up.

……..Firefighters have been fighting since Saturday the monster fire near Deepwater, Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek, Eungella and Dalrymple Heights, where people were ordered to evacuate before fires cut road.

Most people got out by road but some had to be ferried over Baffle Creek.

……….Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Gee had bluntly warned people that the conditions were so dangerous people could die if they stayed put.

“People will burn to death. Their normal approaches probably won’t work if this situation develops the way it is predicted to develop. It is no different to a Category 5 cyclone coming through your door.”

Brian Smith, Regional Manager for the Rural Fire Services Central Region, said experts were comparing the conditions in Deepwater to the Waroona fires in Western Australia, which completely wiped out a town a few years ago, and also to the recent deadly California fires.

Interstate crews arrived on Tuesday to help fight the inferno in Deepwater that’s destroyed homes and burnt through at tens of thousands of hectares of bush and farmland since Saturday.

Crews from South Australia are expected to arrive on Wednesday, with more from around Australia to arrive later this week. https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/qld-may-lose-lives-in-firestorm-govt/news-story/df1dcf91c83f868bef7ba12caba27c40

November 29, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change - global warming, Queensland

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