A massive fire on K’gari-Fraser Island has been contained after raging for several weeks, and burning through almost half of the World Heritage-listed island.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services announced the good news that the fire had been contained in a Facebook post on Sunday.
The blaze has so far burned through an estimated 85,000 hectares of vegetation.
“With the help of welcome rainfall and a massive response from our crews, as well as the local community and our partners from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, the fire is now contained,” the post read.
“QFES is today handing back control of the fire to QPWS, but our crews will remain on the ground patrolling to ensure the community remain safe.”
Water bombers dumped almost three million litres of water and fire-retardant gel on the blaze during the nine-week battle, after it was sparked by an illegal campfire in mid-October.
But loose soil on the world’s largest sand island caused the liquid to drain away quickly in the inaccessible, bush-covered dunes where the fire burned on multiple fronts.
The blaze has sparked fears for the landscape and wildlife, with K’gari-Fraser Island listed as a World Heritage Area due to its unique ecosystems.
Peter Shooter, president of the community-based Fraser Island Defenders Organisation, previously expressed concern for the island’s rainforests, which don’t respond well to bushfires.
He also warned that the island’s large populations of small marsupials, reptiles, birds, and insects would have been “massively impacted”.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered a full review into the preparedness and response to the blaze following criticism from the opposition and local business owners.
With reporting by AAP.
