Dirranbandi residents evacuating as bushfire burns near south-west ...
4 hours agoTue 5 Nov 2024 at 8:00am
A south-west Queensland town is being evacuated as a large and fast-moving fire burns nearby.
An emergency warning has been issued for Dirranbandi, more than six hours south-west of Brisbane, with residents advised to leave immediately.
Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O'Toole said two fires were burning to the north-east and south-east of the town and were moving north.
The fire east from Dirranbandi caravan park about 8pm. (Supplied Leanne Short)
"Overnight the fire is expected to worsen and the weather conditions are expected to contribute to that," she said.
She said residents needed to leave by driving along Dirranbandi Hebel Road and then Bollon Dirranbandi Road.
An emergency warning has been issued for the town of Dirranbandi. (Supplied: Ella Brien)
Residents are advised to avoid driving on St George Dirranbandi Road and Wheynbah Road.
An evacuation centre is open at the St George Cultural Centre and Hall at St George and livestock can be taken to the St George showgrounds.
People are being encouraged to take bedding and essential items to the evacuation centre.
"This is a very extraordinary circumstance and not something that we would normally be experiencing out west," Ms O'Toole said.
The fire triggered an emergency warning from authorities. (Supplied: Ella Brien)
Ms O'Toole said the eastern entrance of the Castlereagh Highway had been blocked by the fire.
The QFD said conditions could worsen quickly and properties would likely be impacted.
Eight crews are on the ground working to strengthen containment lines around the town, with another six crews inbound.
Power lines are down in the area, with Ergon Energy reporting 477 customers have been impacted with an estimated fix time unknown.
A QFD spokesperson said there were no reports of loss of properties as of 7:15pm.
Dirranbandi had a population of 610 people at the 2021 census, and has an airport, hospital and prep to year 10 state school.
The emergency warning applies between Cubbie Road, Bollon Dirranbandi Road, Dirranbandi Hebel Road and Narine Road. (Supplied: Ella Brien)
