Update 1430h 26 October

The main thing to report is the weather forecast (for Crows Nest, the nearest location with an up-to-date forecast and similar conditions to the Helidon Hills).

Maximum temperature is predicted to reach 33 degC this afternoon, Relative Humidity 35-45% dropping to 20-30% by 1500h.

Winds are expected to become W-NW at 25km/h with gusts to 35km/h.  At 11.00pm a SW change will come through with winds of 35-40km/h and gusts of 40-50km/h.

The fire team is currently watching the situation in relation to three houses in Sandy Creek (Adsett, Garrard, and Deucker) - fire moving in from the NW; and 21 in the Vinegar Hill area (vicinity of Beech Rd, Outlook Crescent, Forestry Road and Pine Road) - fire moving in from the W coming from Wallers Road.

Apart from those areas fire crews are mainly engaged in mopping up operations.

The Incident Controller will be flying over the area later this afternoon and I will try to get an update on the situation after 5.00pm.