13 crews in blaze battle

FIRE crews from all over the region battled a large grass fire at Rainbow Creek, off Gin Gin-Mt Perry Road yesterday, as hot and dry north-westerly winds fanned the flames.

More than 40 firefighters from 13 crews including Gin Gin, Mt Perry, Avondale, Elliott Heads, Burnett Heads, Moore Park and Wallaville were expected to work late into the night to contain the fire.

A QFRS spokesperson said the Rainbow Creek blaze had a front of about 3km, and was in largely inaccessible terrain.

He said the blaze could burn for up to a week before it went out.

Police were last night investigating the cause of the fire.

“Crews are currently tracking the fire,” he said.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) rural operations Bundaberg area director Tony Johnstone said no homes were threatened, but property owners should remain prepared.

“Whether they are in the outer suburbs of Bundaberg or further out west, people need to clean up around their houses, and ask their neighbours if they need help cleaning their yards,” Mr Johnstone said.

He did not rule out the possibility of a total fire ban in the Bundaberg region, after one was enforced yesterday for most of the state south of Gympie, but said it was in the hands of the QFRS commissioner.

As firefighters worked to douse the flames at Rainbow Creek, a plane carrying volunteer fire observer Richard Greatorex circled the skies in the region, in an effort to spot smaller conflagrations and put them out before they spread.

“It's a precautionary measure to stop small fires from spreading,” Mr Johnstone said.

Once located, the fires would be marked on an electronic map, and ground crews would assess whether they needed to be extinguished or whether they would burn out naturally.

Mr Johnstone said the hot, dry weather had hit early this year, leaving fire crews with less time than usual to prepare for the fire season.

“The fire brigades are prepared, but they have not done as much as they would like because it's happened so quickly,” he said.

“We are getting the usual amount of fires, but the weather that we have been having has caused them to fan bigger than they usually would.”