Australia warns of wicked summer as residents flee raging Bushfires
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australia warns of wicked summer as residents flee raging Bushfires *
SYDNEY, Oct 20 (AFP) Oct 20, 2009
Concerned residents abandoned their homes and fled as wildfires closed
in on hundreds of suburban properties in Australia's northeast,
officials said, adding there was likely worse to come.
There were no forced evacuations, but officials urged anyone not
prepared to protect their property to flee as flames of up to four
metres (13 feet) closed in on Rockhampton city, north of Brisbane.
Erratic winds fanned the blaze from the Mount Archer National Park,
where it has been burning for 11 days, officials said.
Aerial water bombing and work by crews on the ground prevented the
flames from reaching property, but the Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service warned the threat had not yet passed as winds remained high.
"Crews protected approximately 100 houses in the area this morning with
minimal loss reported," the service said. "Residents in these areas are
urged to remain vigilant in case conditions change."
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the blazes were a sobering
reminder of the coming southern hemisphere summer, which authorities
fear could pose a devastating fire threat.
"Above average temperatures are contributing to an early fire season
this year, and there is above normal fire potential across much of
southern Australia," McClelland said.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the government stood ready to
provide full financial and emergency support.
"The commonwealth ... will continue to work closely with Queensland
authorities, local government and community organisations to ensure
affected communities have all the support they need during this
difficult period," she told parliament.
Firefighters responded to almost 50 blazes across Queensland state
Tuesday, where fires have been burning now for more than three weeks,
destroying one home.
A near-total ban on lighting fires has been extended there until next
Monday, and an arson investigation is underway in Rockhampton.
In February, bushfires killed 173 people in the southeastern state of
Victoria, eradicating entire towns and destroying thousands of homes in
a firestorm known as Black Saturday.
Fearing even worse conditions this southern hemisphere summer,
authorities this month announced a new "Code Red" warning for
catastrophic wildfires which would require residents to abandon their homes.
A parching El Nino weather system was highly likely to intensify over
southeastern Australia in coming months, bringing extensive drought and
ideal wildfire conditions, officials have warned.
Victoria and its neighbouring states are in the grip of a decade-long
drought, and experienced a run of record-breaking temperatures in the
weeks before the fires, leaving uncleared bushland tinder-dry.