Grassfire breaks containment lines on Qld's Darling Downs - ABC Online

Updated October 24, 2012 13:43:29

Strong winds have hampered efforts to bring a large grassfire on Queensland's Northern Darling Downs under control, in one of six burning across the state's south.

Three water bombers have been deployed after the large grassfire in the Crows Nest National Park, north of Toowoomba, broke containment lines.

The fire had been contained last night after threatening some rural properties.

However, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) spokesman Wayne Waltisbuhl says strong winds have caused the fire to break containment lines on one front.

"Just launched three water bombers out of Toowoomba airport to go up and assist ground crews on that outbreak," he said.

Mr Waltisbuhl says the fire is fuelled by strong easterly winds.

"At this stage this is the wind that's causing the problems, but often you can have 1,000 fire trucks and the wind can take the fire right through them," he said.

"We just need to manage all we've got and deal with these outbreaks as quickly as we can, with all the resources we've got.

"Confident with the team we've got up there we'll manage that."

Crows Nest caravan park operator Mike Goodbody says locals are being vigilant.

"At the moment we don't feel insecure but you can never tell because it's quite windy," he said.

Meanwhile, a fire burning across 15,000 hectares at Morven, east of Charleville, since the weekend is now under control.

At Grantham, west of Brisbane, several crews are trying to contain a blaze that has been burning in state forest in the area since Sunday.

Topics: bushfire, emergency-incidents, emergency-planning, crows-nest-4355, toowoomba-4350, grantham-4347, longreach-4730, morven-4468

First posted October 24, 2012 13:41:29