Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have urged residents not to light fires with a fire ban across South East Queensland expected to continue.
A large vegetation fire ripped through Gary and Angela Larter’s property on Saturday 14 October, threatening homes and destroying farmland.
The fire, believed to have started on a neighbouring property, quickly got out of control and tore through several properties before being brought under control by fire fighters on Sunday night.
Family and friends raced to the property on Saturday to do what they could to save houses and cabins.
QFES provided ground and aerial support, with heavy machinery brought in to create fire breaks and planes used to water bomb the area.
“Saturday and Sunday sounded like a war zone on the Oaky Creek properties,” said the Larter’s daughter, Holly Saxe.
“We are so thankful to have had the ground support from Rathdowney, Kooralbyn, Woodhill and Beaudesert RFS and Fire and Rescue, as well as air support.”
“It was physically and emotionally exhausting; just when you thought you had control over the fire, it would take off in another direction with the wind changes. It wasn’t easy terrain to tackle.”
“We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts who helped out to save the houses and cabins, without them all we would have lost the whole lot.”
The Larters are devastated to have lost the small amount of grass that was on the property for livestock.
A total fire ban came into place on Sunday 15 October.
QFES urged residents not to light fires during the fire ban or when there is a high fire danger.
Power tools may be used during a local fire ban however QFES encourages people to use these with extreme care and ensure adequate equipment is available to extinguish any fire which may start.
Information on fire bans and the exemptions that can apply can be found on the QFES website www.qfes.qld.gov.au.
