Qld; Winds rekindle bushfire emergencyf in SE Qld

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2000
Qld; Winds rekindle bushfire emergencyf in SE Qld

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - The bushfire emergency in south-east Queensland was rekindled
today as dry westerly winds sprang up, briefly closing a major road and threatening homes.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority (QFRA) spokesman Merv Steele said flames came
within 50m of 10 homes in Monday Drive and Thursday Drive (Monday Drive and Thursday Drive)
at Tallebudgera Valley in the Gold Coast hinterland early this afternoon.

But Mr Steele said backburning by firefighters helped bring the blaze under control.

Another fire was reported at Kopps Road, near Movieworld theme park at Coomera.

But there was no smoke hazard reported for the nearby Pacific Highway, he said.

Further north, a blaze was burning this afternoon at Park Ridge but no homes were reported
in danger.

Drifting smoke from a bushfire also closed the Centenary Highway at Darra, on Brisbane's
western outskirts, early this afternoon but the road was later reopened with one lane
in either direction.

The weather bureau has again forecast dry, moderate to fresh north-western winds for
this afternoon, shifting to south-westerly this evening and easing tomorrow morning before
turning north-westerly and freshening again.

Light rain or showers were forecast for Saturday morning but a high fire danger and
a total fire ban remained.

AAP rad/jhm/was

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES (CARRIED EARLIER)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.