Ring of fire surrounds city

15th October 2009

AS IF the dust that swept through Ipswich yesterday wasn't bad enough, the city was also the centre of a burning ring of fire.

HOT WORK: Queensland Fire and Rescue officers battle a grass fire on a property on Brass Road at Mt Forbes.

Rob Williams/Queensland Times

AS IF the dust that swept through Ipswich yesterday wasn't bad enough, the city was also the centre of a burning ring of fire.

Several grass fires encircled the city including Brass Road at Mt Forbes, Long Gully Road, Grandchester, Mountain View Drive at Minden and the corner of Shaw Road and the Warrego Highway, Hatton Vale.

At Minden, fire bombing was called in, a rural firefighter suffered smoke inhalation and a torn shoulder and last night authorities were considering evacuating residents.

At Mt Forbes, 25km south-west of Ipswich, Matt Ward and his pregnant wife Sue watched amazed as flames approached their house.

“About 1.40pm the power went out for five, 10 seconds. The wife looked out the back and there was a fire,” Mr Ward said.

“There was a big line of fire easily a couple of hundred metres long. It was about 100m away but it was pretty close to the house next door and they've got dog kennels.”

He drove to the neighbours' house to check they were all right before fire crews arrived.

He said the fire initially was burning away from his family's house but a wind change brought it towards the house with his wife, three children and dogs inside.

“It's pretty scary when it comes that quick,” he said.

The dust haze was mild compared to last month's storm.

The Weather Channel's Tom Saunders said it was worse in south-west Queensland.

“It wasn't pushed far towards the coast because the winds weren't as turbulent,” Mr Saunders said.

“Dalby had a severe dust storm with zero visibility at one point.”

The dust arrived in Gatton about noon and was expected to be out to sea last night.

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