STATE’S FIRESTORM CLOSE TO HOME
Hinterland residents issued warning as state continues to burn
EXTREME heat and fierce winds lashed the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon as emergency services battled several bushfires.
Wongawallan and Oxenford residents were issued a notice to prepare to leave just before 5pm as firefighters battled for hours to extinguish the blazes.
Across Queensland, thousands of residents were evacuated as dangerous fire conditions prevailed.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered the evacuation of more than 8000 residents from Gracemere to Rockhampton in Central Queensland, as the fire danger reached its highest level of “catastrophic”.
“This is the first time we have had this category in Queensland,’’ she said. “Unprecedented, uncharted.’’
About 130 bushfires were burning across the state with several having destroyed properties.
TWO large fires burning in the Gold Coast hinterland took hours to control yesterday as blazes around the state continue to wreak havoc.
Extreme heat and strong winds lashed the Coast yesterday afternoon, making things tough for emergency services battling fires across the city.
Wongawallan and Oxenford residents were issued a notice to prepare to leave just before 5pm.
The Wongawallan blaze was under control by 5.30pm, while the Oxenford fire was finally deemed under control just before 7pm.
Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade posted to Facebook warning locals to remain vigilant and that embers travelling in high winds could create spot fires. The rural crew switched out at 10pm after hours of battling the blaze.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said urban firefighters implemented a dry fire line between Oxenford properties and the fire, as well as structural protection.
Across Queensland, thousands of residents were evacuated as fierce fire conditions rocked the state.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered the evacuation of more than 8000 residents from Gracemere to Rockhampton, declaring the fire situation at a “catastrophic” level for the first time in the state’s history.
About 130 bushfires were burning across the state, including some that have destroyed homes.
On the Coast, crews battled fires near Elevation Dr at Wongawallan west of Oxenford, Tamborine Oxenford Rd, Jourdana Dr and Howard Creek Place.
Half an acre was alight at Williamson Rd, Mt Tamborine, about 3.30pm and was extinguished within half an hour, while small bush fires burned at Yatala, Norwell and Coomera yesterday afternoon.
The blustery heat was broken by a lunchtime storm that cut power and caused minor damage. Energex crews worked throughout last night to restore power to more than 10,000 homes.
Almost 20,000 lightning strikes hit the Coast during the storm and caused hours of delays and cancellations at the Gold Coast Airport. Flights are expected to be arriving and departing on time today.
A trampoline was blown into power lines and caused a black out at Mt Tamborine. Crews couldn’t drive up the mountain for several hours as wind gusts were blowing about 100km/h.
“Crews will be working all through the night to make sure everyone has their power restored,” Energex spokesman Justin Coombers said yesterday. “We haven’t seen a midday storm like this in nearly a decade.”
After the storm passed, Coolangatta and Coomera hit a high of 35.8C for the first time in November since 2014.
Bureau of Meteorology spokesman David Crock said the weather was unusual.