Monday, 3 October 2011

Qld resort threatened by bushfire

Ground crews and water-bombing aircraft fought the fire that started yesterday evening and came within 800 metres of Kingfisher Bay Resort, causing the resort to move about 50 staff and guests out of its 500 occupants.


It was one of 44 blazes battled by several hundred firefighters today, who benefited from a drop in winds and rain that began to move northwards from the south-east.


The number of fires was a significant drop from the 424 burning from the Atherton Tablelands to southern parts of the state at the weekend.


Fire Commissioner Lee Johnson said the Fraser Island blaze had never actually threatened the resort and was expected to be fully extinguished by tonight.






It was believed to have been ignited after embers from a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service control burn from last week sparked up again.


But that was a fact of life and several of the blazes this fire season had begun this way, the commissioner said.


"From time to time, hazard reduction burns do get out of control," he said.


"What happens is the wind changes.


"If there's burning embers or logs or whatever, it can then spark a reignition of that same fire."


However, firebugs could also be blamed for "a number" of the more minor fires authorities had been dealing with, Mr Johnson said.


Kingfisher Bay Resort Group general manager David Hay praised the firefighters, especially those who maintained a vigil at the resort last night.


"The rural fire brigade as well as the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service were here all night ... and they have done a great job," he said.


Meanwhile, fire permits for central Queensland have been suspended until midnight tomorrow because of the high fire danger.


It comes after a major grass fire that threatened a tourist resort on Fraser Island, which may have been a controlled burn-off gone wrong.


Neil Gallant from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service says the suspension is necessary, because of dry weather conditions coupled with strong winds.


Fire crews and water bombing aircraft are still working to contain the blaze on Fraser Island which is about five kilometres south of the resort.

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