Grass conditions have deteriorated across much of Queensland sparking emergency services to warn producers against any sort of back burning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Most of Queensland experienced good rainfall last year but it has been followed by extended dry periods.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services south west regional manager, Wayne Waltisbuhl, said it was now too late for landholders to start back burning.
Mr Waltisbuhl said the abundant grass started curing off in late November and December, and that was when the back burning should have been done.
"We saw the pasture go from lush, to yellow to brown, and there is a high volume of dead grass out there leaving landholders vulnerable," he said.
"It is too late to back burn now, but landholders can make sure they have adequate fire breaks, plough and slash their paddocks and heavily graze to protect themselves."
"Also make sure you have fire extinguishers and water tankers ready for use."
Hot conditions with low humidity and wind guts of 30 kilometres/hour were ideal fire conditions and in recent weeks it had been machinery that had sparked fires including a blaze at Wieambilla near Chinchilla.
"It only takes that one spark from a welder to set a blaze," he said.
"It took 2000 hours of volunteer firefighters and other services to bring it under control."
Old Talgai local Darren Christiansen is among those who have fallen victim to an accidental blaze on his property, Kenmore.
Mr Christiansen was starting up his dozer to assist a neighbour who had a fire five kilometres away near Pratten, when he accidentally started his own blaze after the dozer blade hit a rock.
He said once the fire was ablaze the fire crews just could not keep up and he lost between 323 hectares to 400ha of very dry grass.
"We had the neighbours 13000 litre water truck, utes with 1000L tanks and a landholder who sent a 40,000 litre water tanker to help," he said.
"As well we had the fire engines from Clifton, Allora and Toowoomba, plus water bombers."
Mr Christensen said he then received a very welcome 36 millilitres of rain which helped dampened the fire.
Mr Christiansen, who has lived in the district for the past nine years, said it was very humbling to receive the support he did.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
