{{Short description|Natural disaster in Australia}} {{Update|date=November 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox wildfire |title= 2023 Darling Downs fires |image= |location= [[Darling Downs]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] |date= 23 October 2023 - 7 November 2023<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Pages/disasters/current-disasters/Queensland/western-darling-downs-fires-commencing-16-October-2023.aspx |title= Southern Queensland fires: 8 September - 7 November 2023 |website= disasterassist.go.au |language=en}}</ref> |time= |timezone= |acres= 27000 acres burned |cause = Undetermined |landuse= Urban/rural fringe areas, farmland and forest reserves |fatalities= 2 |injuries= Unknown |structures= 46 buildings destroyed |cost= Unknown }} The '''2023 Darling Downs fires''' was an [[Australia|Australian]] [[bushfire]] that began on 23 October 2023 after emergency warnings were issued for multiple bushfires in the [[Darling Downs]] region but particularly concentrated in the [[Western Downs Region]] and in [[Millmerran Woods, Queensland|Milmerran Woods]]. More than 40 fires burned across Darling Downs, with two fatalities in the town of Tara.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/body-found-after-bushfires-tear-through-queenslands-southeast/news-story/5ad2a1046dcca147aa46d3286b5f9793 |title='Worst possible outcome': Second body found after bushfires tear through Queensland's southeast |website=News.com.au|language=en|access-date=2023-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Belot |first1=Henry |last2=Press |first2=Australian Associated |title=Dozens of fires rage across NSW and Queensland but deadly Tara blaze nearly contained |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/26/dozens-of-fires-rage-across-nsw-and-queensland-but-deadly-tara-blaze-nearly-contained |website=The Guardian |access-date=27 October 2023 |date=26 October 2023}}</ref>
==Western Downs fires== On 23 October 2023, emergency warnings were issued for multiple bushfires burning in the Western Downs region, with calls to residents to evacuate the towns of [[Tara, Queensland|Tara]], [[Kogan, Queensland|Kogan]] and surrounding areas, with evacuation areas set up at the Western Downs Regional Council centre.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-23/emergency-warnings-issued-for-southern-qld-bushfires/103010840|title=Emergency warnings issued for fast-moving fires in southern Queensland |website=ABC News|date=23 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-25}}</ref>
On 25 October, the winds changed the fire direction towards the township of Tara, forcing the evacuation centre there to be closed with 173 people to be evacuated to Dalby.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/25/queensland-fires-qld-bushfires-tara-death-emergency-level-fire-cypress-gardens-millmerran-downs |title=Queensland fires: evacuation centre evacuated as raging fire heads toward Tara township |website=The Guardian|date=25 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-25 |last1=Messenger |first1=Andrew }}</ref> The Tara fires maintained intensity over Wednesday with the front 15 kilometres from Tara, with firefighters attempting to create fire breaks. The body of a missing man was found near Tara, and a woman died at a house in Tara due to a suspected cardiac event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-25/qld-bushfires-body-found-tara-millmerran/103015702 |title=Body found as southern Queensland bushfires burn properties in tinderbox conditions |website=ABC news|date=24 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-25}}</ref>
On 27 October, more than 200 people were involved in fighting the Western Downs fires, in addition to 44 interstate firefighters involved. About 280 people were sheltering at evacuation centres in [[Dalby, Queensland|Dalby]] and [[Chinchilla, Queensland|Chinchilla]], as well as reported looting in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/bushfire-battle-looks-set-continue-163000567.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS5hdS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMciB2FxfozF1IA4FbfgyMVuF6eoiFBH58gwdltzzhUGhehekoTI9-uIRiGW2nqhrNjVtAW0EEQOGjP37n4y-D3PKR0VZ7jkRx_hRV-xcnx-nWKMK1O-tijJHXp_YfTnL1DOWzrbH7cEb6mqURPMcSD-6ixlT1-wJF6kRwAyLo-k |title=Interstate, NZ help for weary Queensland firefighters |website=Yahoo |date=27 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref>
On 28 October, at 1 am on Saturday, [[Queensland Fire and Emergency Services|QFES]] issued multiple emergency warnings for immediate evacuation of the towns of [[Tara, Queensland|Tara]], [[Wieambilla]], and [[The Gums, Queensland|The Gums]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/more-residents-told-to-evacuate-as-queensland-fires-spread-across-western-downs-and-gladstone-regions--c-12354458 |title=More residents told to evacuate as Queensland fires spread across Western Downs and Gladstone regions |website=7 News|date=28 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref>
On 30 October, conditions deteriorated with strong westerly winds and high temperatures which worsened the fires, as well as 46 homes confirmed destroyed, 30 sheds, and 8 mobile homes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/30/queensland-fires-news-updates-homes-lost-destroyed |title=Conditions to deteriorate on Tuesday as authorities confirm 46 homes destroyed in Queensland |website=7 News|date=30 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
==Southern Downs fires== On 31 October, emergency warnings to evacuate were issued for residents in the town of [[Wallangarra, Queensland|Wallangarra]], as a new fire broke out in the [[Southern Downs Region|Southern Downs]]. By 2:18 pm AEST, warnings were revised to seek immediate shelter as it was now too late for residents to leave.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/31/qld-fires-latest-updates-news-darling-downs-tara-wieambilla-near-me-current-tracker |title=Qld and NSW fires latest: Wallangarra residents told to seek immediate shelter as emergency warning escalates |website=The Guardian |date=31 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-31}}</ref>
==Reactions== ===Local and State=== Queensland Premier [[Annastacia Palaszczuk]], visited fire-affected residents sheltering in refuge centres in Dalby, and paid tribute to firefighters and communities stating; 'I want to thank once again all of those involved in helping our communities including interstate and New Zealand fire crews giving our own firefighters a much-needed break. Aircraft – including our LAT and New South Wales’ – are deployed where they can do the most good. Queensland’s arms continue to wrap around those who’ve lost everything in these fires.'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99028 |title=Queensland bushfire update |website=QLD.gov.au |date=30 October 2023 |language=en|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{2023 wildfires}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darling Downs fires, 2023}} [[Category:2023 wildfires]] [[Category:2023 fires in Oceania]] [[Category:2023 disasters in Australia]] [[Category:2020s in Queensland]] [[Category:October 2023 in Australia]] [[Category:November 2023 in Australia]] [[Category:Bushfires in Queensland]] [[Category:Darling Downs|2023 fires]]