Fire may be act of arsonist
AN 80-hectare bushfire burning for five days close to Wongawallan could have been deliberately lit, say fire investigators.
More than 70 rural firefighters from as far as Gatton have been battling the blaze day and night.
Gold Coast Rural Fire Brigade group officer Sam Eitz said although still unconfirmed, it was possible the bushfire, which began at Cedar Creek on Tuesday, was suspicious.
“Every volunteer firefighter, we don’t like to hear or see of these things happening,” he said. “We think no one should be out lighting fires.”
Mr Eitz said the past days had been spent putting containment lines in at properties close to Lanes Rd, Elevation Dr and Upper Coomera Rd around Wongawallan using dozers and drotts.
He said larger fire engines holding up to 3000L were also used as there was no reticulated water available and dormant fire trails had been reopened.
Helicopters also waterbombed the area throughout the week.
Yesterday afternoon firefighters finally managed to finish the control lines so that the blaze could burn out safely.
Mr Eitz said while the fire was not truly under control just yet, he expected this to change once it had burnt out to the containment lines.
“I’m quite confident it will stay like that over the weekend,” he said. “At this stage there’s potential burning in pockets until next week, due to the nature of the terrain.”
Mr Eitz said they could now start scaling back the number of firefighters on the job, although a “presence” would remain on site. WHEN it comes to Australian Rules, Piper Phelan really is in a league of her own.
The Palm Beach 12-yearold has made history as the first girl to win the Gold Coast’s Troy Clarke Player of the Year award after receiving more “best and fairest” votes than any player – in any age group or competition – in the region.
It is the culmination of a journey that started at a Palm Beach Currumbin Lions club sign-on day seven years ago when she refused to leave until her dad let her play.
Now after a year which saw the historic launch of the AFL Women’s competition, Piper, in Year 7 at Palm Beach Currumbin High School, has set her sights on following her new heroes into the sport as a career.
“I would love to play in the AFLW one day,” she said.
Piper spent most of her early years playing against boys and now in her second year of girls-only competition, she has flourished.