Heat is on for firies across city

Letea Cavander | 26th October 2009

FARMER John Manera could do nothing but watch as a shed and machinery worth about $400,000 burnt to the ground at Elliott Heads on Saturday night.

Firefighters moves quickly to redeploy services to FE Walker street where yesterday’s fire threatened houses.

Max Fleet

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East Bundaberg fire

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FARMER John Manera could do nothing but watch as a shed and machinery worth about $400,000 burnt to the ground at Elliott Heads on Saturday night.

The blaze started in a tractor, which rolled into the shed and set the structure on fire.

During a busy weekend for firefighters, a water-bombing helicopter also had to be called in to dump thousands of litres of water on a blaze that ripped through bushland at east Bundaberg yesterday.

MR Manera said one of his neighbours was driving home from Elliott Heads when he spotted a small fire beneath a tractor parked beside the 40-metre-by-20-metre shed on Dorflers Road.

“He got out of his car to put out the fire,” Mr Manera said.

“Then all of a sudden the tractor shorted out, started, did a 90-degree turn and went through the shed door and exploded into flames.”

There was little that could be done as earthmoving equipment, tools, a cold room, generators, a forklift and the tractor that started the blaze went up in flames.

When Mr Manera arrived at the scene the shed was ablaze.

“I was just stunned, shocked. I couldn't believe it,” he said.

Another farmer owned a tractor and a forklift also parked in the shed at the time.

Queensland Fire and Rescue officers, and three crews from Elliott Heads Rural Fire Brigade, were called to the scene about 8.30pm and had the fire under control about an hour later.

A second shed was also saved from the blaze.

Mr Manera said he was happy no one was injured.

Bundaberg Police Detective Sergeant Ben Fadian said the cause of the tractor blaze was being investigated.

He urged people who saw anything unusual in the area on Saturday night to telephone Bundaberg CIB on 4153 9111 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Read more about fires in Bundaberg: 'Blaze happened so fast'

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Do you know what to do in the advent of a fire? Read Qld bushfire safety tips for tips and links to further information.