The Toowoomba Regional Council has stood up its Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) as the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) issues a ‘leave immediately’ and ‘Not safe to return’ warnings for a bushfire in the Cypress Gardens and Millmerran Downs area.
Toowoomba Region Mayor, Geoff McDonald said residents were being asked to evacuate to family and friends’ homes in the first instance.
“Properties between Ayers Rock Road, Gore Highway, Waratah Drive and Primrose Drive, including Camellia Court are in the warning area,” he said.
“The fast-moving fire is burning at Ayres Rock Road and Gore Highway and is travelling towards Primrose Drive. The bushfire has jumped the Gore Highway and is in the Western Creek State Forest heading due east.
“Residents are being asked to enact their bushfire survival plan and leave immediately. The Department of Transport and Main Roads has closed off the Gore Highway and QFES is telling residents to avoid driving on Ayers Rock Road, Primrose Road and Waratah Drive.
“Go to a place away from the emergency area, with family and friends in the first instance. If residents do not have another option, they are to head to the evacuation centre set up at the Pavilion at the Millmerran Showgrounds,” Mayor McDonald said.
QFES has also issued Prepare To Leave warnings for Captains Mountain and Millmerran Woods.
For full details of current warnings visit Council’s Disaster Dashboard at https://disaster.tr.qld.gov.au/.
