Authorities fear the devastating fires ripping across Fraser Island will only intensify with a scorching heatwave and weather conditions ripe for disaster.
One of the country’s most popular tourist spots is making headlines around the world as a massive inferno continues to wreak havoc across Fraser Island.
More than 30 fire crews are battling blazes on the picturesque island, with aircraft dropping hundreds of thousands of litres of saltwater over the affected areas.
Tourists were forced to evacuate after the bushfire, which has been burning out of control for six weeks, came dangerously close to the island’s biggest resort.
The fire is burning on two fronts through the UNESCO World Heritage site, wiping out large chunks of its unique forests.
Incident controller James Haig said they were doing their “absolute best” to contain the fire and mitigate damage.
“Conditions are very challenging but we’re working through them,” he said in a video message posted to Twitter.
“It’s 76,000 hectares … we’re prioritising safety but also recognising the special values of Fraser Island.”
He said vegetation on Fraser Island was extremely dry which meant it was very easy to ignite, AFP reported.
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But relief for the firefighters won’t come anytime soon with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting the severe heatwave that NSW and Victoria sweltered through over the weekend will move up to Queensland and worsen in the coming days.
The hottest day is likely to be Wednesday, when temperatures on Fraser are forecast to reach up to 34C.
The blaze, which is believed to have started from an illegal campfire, has been burning since the beginning of October and has destroyed more than 40 per cent of the island’s bush.
Mr Haig said their highest priority was the protection of life and property, but they were very conscious of the cultural and heritage importance of the island.
The heatwave and strong winds are expected to exacerbate fire and smoke conditions.
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Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser will be closed until at least December 14 as the fire burns less than 4km from the sprawling accommodation.
“We value your loyalty and support during this time, and please note that our reservations team are busy contacting all guests with bookings over the coming days,” the resort said.
“Guests will be contacted in order of date of arrival.”
It is set to be sweltering around the Sunshine State this week, with fire warnings for other regions as well.
Birdsville in western Queensland has had three consecutive days of 46C-plus weather, with 47C forecast for today.
BOM Queensland warned there were severe fire danger ratings for southwest Queensland “where windy conditions will combine with the heatwave”.
“Very high fire danger ratings for the eastern interior, where it will be very hot and dry, but less windy,” the bureau said in a tweet.
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Australia’s devastating bushfire season has well and truly arrived – something the nation was brutally reminded of over the weekend when a number of blazes sprung up across the country.
In NSW, November heat records tumbled as most of the state saw temperatures soar above 40C.
The windy, hot conditions triggered a number of blazes – with 62 grass and bushfires burning in NSW alone on Saturday and Sunday.
And in South Australia, a fire in Uleybury, less than an hour north of Adelaide, burnt over the weekend. It has now been contained.
Last Friday, a rapidly moving grass fire burnt through more than 650 hectares in Templers, north of Adelaide, before firefighters and an earthmoving machine were able to contain it by the afternoon.
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Speaking at the weekend, NSW Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott urged people not to think that the horrors of last fire season couldn’t be repeated.
“Here we go again. We have of course seen the first weekend of really significant bushfire activity,” Mr Elliott said.
“I want to make sure the message is very, very clear. What we are seeing this weekend is pretty consistent with what we will potentially see over the course of this fire season.”
“We cannot fall into a false sense of security. The community out there, unfortunately, thinks after the last season we are not at risk of bushfire.
“The reality is 90 per cent of the state is still untouched by bushfire.”
