One person has died and at least six homes have been destroyed as crews continue to battle multiple blazes west of Brisbane.
The Western Downs bushfires have caused the region to evacuate, including Tara, where a body was discovered last night.
QLD police confirmed an investigation into the death but did not provide further details.
It comes after bushfires claimed the life of a 56-year-old man on NSW’s mid-north coast last week.
Context
Multiple bushfire warnings are currently in place across QLD’s south.
The towns of Tara and Wieambilla in the Western Downs are under an emergency evacuation warning.
Residents across multiple nearby areas and parts of Toowoomba are on a ‘watch and act alert’.
Any residents who had previously been told to evacuate those areas have been warned it’s not safe for them to return home yet.
Western Downs Bushfires
The worst of the state’s bushfire emergency is in the Western Downs.
Today, there are 19 crews battling several fires in Tara and another 11 crews on the ground at Millmerran.
Water bombing and aerial support is being provided throughout the day.
In the past 24 hours, QLD fire services have responded to over 50 vegetation fires.
Fire bans
Total fire bans are in place across most of the state. In the worst-affected bushfire regions, temperatures of up to 37°C and winds of 15 to 35km/h are forecasted today.
The heat and strong winds could see blazes intensify.
Some showers are forecast around Toowoomba in the coming days, but conditions will stay dry and hot in the Western Downs tomorrow.
Fire bans will remain in place until the end of the month.
