Not yet time to breathe easier
ASTHMA puffers have flown off the shelves in Canungra as some residents struggled to cope with smoke haze hanging over the Hinterland.
Canungra Pharmacy has been flat out as bushfires burn across the region.
The haze has also impacted the Coast since the fires began well over a week ago.
It lifted somewhat yesterday, but will thicken again if conditions deteriorate into the weekend as expected.
Long-time employee Rachel Aiken said the chemist “had to order heaps more (asthma) medication”.
“People who don’t usually have problems have been coming in to get some,” she said.
“It’s been very hard to see everyone having trouble.”
Mrs Aiken said the pharmacy charged cost price for most items and donated to help those affected by the fires.
The Witheren resident was working on Friday when she had to “race home and evacuate in two hours”, alongside her husband, parents and two teenage children.
Fortunately, her home was not affected by the fires, which continued to burn Hinterland yesterday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) warned there was a bushfire burning in the Canungra Defence Base, slowly travelling in an easterly direction towards Lower Beechmont.
Firefighters were monitoring the blaze, which was burning in inaccessible land.
Another fire was burning south of Sarabah Rd in Lamington National Park and firefighters were strengthening containment lines.
Properties were not under threat last night, but firefighters expected conditions would worsen today and urged residents to stay vigilant.
Crews were given a reprieve on Wednesday and yesterday, but the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecast a “very high” fire danger today.
There is next to no chance of much-needed rain, according to the BOM, and temperatures were expected to reach up to 30 degrees. Winds of 15-30kmh were also forecast.
The direction of the wind is often unpredictable in the mountainous terrain, leading to difficulties controlling fires, QFES Assistant Commissioner Kevin Walsh said. in the PRIME Minister Scott Morrison will take to the skies today to get a bird’s eye view of the charred Gold Coast Hinterland, where a string of homes have been engulfed by bushfires.
After his helicopter tour, Mr Morrison plans to visit Binna Burra and the emergency service staging site at Canungra Sports and Recreation Ground.
The area of Binna Burra,