Firies Halt Blaze on Collinsville’s Edge

Photo supplied: Carmin Caston.  

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Firefighters have successfully contained a 69-acre grassfire that threatened homes on the edge of Collinsville, with the close call serving as a timely reminder to prepare for the approaching bushfire season.

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The fire broke out at approximately 1.30pm on Thursday, burning between Peterson Street, Mill Street, Rough Court and Macarthur Street. It spread across about 69 acres throughout the afternoon and threatened several nearby structures, particularly properties at the rear of MacArthur, Petersen and Mill streets.

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Nine Queensland Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service Queensland crews responded to the blaze, acting quickly to contain it.  

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Firefighters stayed at the scene into the night, keeping watch for hotspots hidden inside logs or other burnt material that could flare up again. Local crews returned the following day to deal with any remaining hotspots and continue monitoring the area.

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“Firefighters acted quickly and successfully contained the fire, with no structures lost,” said Rural Fire Service Queensland Inspector James Bromley.

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“Crews worked into the night, with local crews responding to reports of hotspots overnight and continuing to monitor the area during the day.”

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The response from the local firies and Queensland Fire Department drew praise from the wider community and Whitsundays Regional Council.

“A huge thank you to our emergency services, volunteers and locals in Collinsville who stepped up to help put out a nasty grass fire that threatened the edge of town this afternoon,” said Mayor Ry Collins.  

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“With vegetation drying off and feeling like it’s getting warmer, it’s a timely reminder to our whole region to be aware of bushfire risk and prepare for more of the hot and windy conditions we saw today as we head into the months ahead.

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“Thanks again to our community for looking out for each other when it counts.”

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With the Collinsville fire among one of the region’s first major fires as winter draws to a close, Inspector Bromley echoed those warnings, pointing to rising temperatures, below-average rainfall and drying vegetation.

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“The grass is continuing to cure, and we ask people conducting any activities that can cause sparks, such as cutting, grinding and mowing, to do so with care and be mindful of the dry conditions,” he said.

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Inspector Bromley reminded residents they would not have to live directly beside bushland to be affected, with properties also vulnerable to embers and smoke.

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Residents are recommended to exercise all measures of precautions, such as mowing long grass, trimming trees and clearing flammable material from around buildings. Households are also encouraged to complete a bushfire survival plan to fully grasp the threats that live around them.  

“Managing bushfire risk is a shared responsibility, and landowners are legally responsible for managing bushfire hazards on their property,” Inspector Bromley said.

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Hazard-reduction burns may also continue where conditions allow, meaning smoke could remain visible across parts of the region.

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Inspector Bromley said anyone who saw smoke and was unsure whether it was coming from a planned burn or an uncontrolled fire should call Triple Zero.

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Further preparation advice is available through the Queensland Fire Department.  

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