Two K'gari-Fraser Island settlements told to prepare to leave, as firefighters 'save' Happy Valley from blaze

A large bushfire is threatening the settlement of The Oaks on Queensland's Fraser Island, with water-carrying aircraft to bombard the blaze.

The fire on the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, has been burning since mid-October.

The fire on the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, has been burning since mid-October. Source: Queensland Ambulance

People are being told to prepare to leave two settlements on Queensland's K'gari-Fraser Island as a dangerous bushfire bears down on them.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services told people at The Oaks and larger Kingfisher Bay Village and Resort to get ready to go at 8.30am on Monday.

The blaze, which has already burnt half of the world heritage listed island, is moving south with the main front only 400m metres from The Oaks.
"You need to be ready to follow your bushfire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, or intend to leave, you should be ready to leave the area because the situation could get worse quickly," QFES said in an alert.

"Firefighters, with the assistance of waterbombing aircraft, will continue working to contain the fire today but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door."

QFES co-ordinator Brian Cox said the fire was being doused by water-bombers with ground crews also trying to protect buildings at The Oaks.
People at the Kingfisher Bay resort and village on the island have also been told to prepare to leave as a fire to the east of the area threatened to get worse.

Mr Cox said an intensive air and ground firefighting operation combined with light rain overnight had effectively steered the fire around the town of Happy Valley, north of The Oaks.

"We saved the town," he said.
Residents have been told to leave immediately as bushfire is expected to impact Fraser Island's Happy Valley community.
The blaze is hard to beat because firefighters need to use more water to dampen the sandy soil on the island. Source: Getty
The fires, which began in October, are burning in three areas of Fraser Island, which is also known by its traditional name K'gari.

On Monday, about 90 firefighters and 24 water-bombing aircraft were trying to beat back the flames.

The NSW Rural Fire Service large air tanker, the Marie Bashir, is helping with water-bombing efforts.

Conservationist Cheryl Bryant took a charter flight over the island to survey the animal populations and fire damage on Monday.
The Save Fraser Island Dingoes spokeswoman painted a bleak picture, saying there were no signs of life in burnt-out areas.

"It's still an unknown and we're hoping that there will be an inquiry, and we're hoping that they will let people over on the island ... to assess what animals still are surviving," she told Seven News.

"We would have liked to have seen ... animals and especially the dingoes around the beach but at this time of the day, it is pretty difficult because they're not likely to be out and about."


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3 min read
Published 8 December 2020 6:18am
Updated 8 December 2020 11:02am
Source: AAP, SBS



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