‘I can’t watch it’: Residents unite as fire tears through hinterland

Like a scene out of Tomorrow When the War Began, the Canungra Showgrounds filled with the glare of spotlights, serving as a meeting point for the small community — facing a disaster many had not seen for decades.

LIKE a scene out of Tomorrow When the War Began, the Canungra Showgrounds filled with the glare of spotlights, served as a meeting point for the small community — facing a disaster many had not seen for decades.

Under the smoky red sunset those in danger sought shelter in tents and caravans as they waited to hear the fate of their homes.

The standing area for firefighters at each shift change, volunteers and victims mixed in the shadows, and the occasional glare of the passing fire truck swapping stories.

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A firefighters at the scene of the blaze. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Others just sat, their eyes on the distant embers in the hilltops waiting for more news.

For those closer to town the Canungra Hotel was a point of refuge, away from the crisis.

Still covered in ash and dirt Danny Walton was enjoying his first cold beer in what seemed to him like forever.

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But he wasn't celebrating. “I’m only on the lights” he said.

He was just taking a breath heading back to face the blaze.

Danny had spent the better part of the last week carting water to save his family home.

His friend Dave Hope had even purchased a 1000 litre water tank for his Ute to help out.

“I asked my boss if I could borrow the truck so I could hook up the 5000 litre tank, so we have been back and forth.

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Chickens from a Sabarah farm which were transported by trailer to the Canungra show grounds as the bushfire raged.

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“It’s dad’s place but he is overseas at the moment, which I think is best, I don’t want him to worry,” Danny said.

“The community is so good, everyone has been helping everyone else out, the missus and her friends were out helping to clear up.

“We had to put in land blocks for the firies to get in and out so I knocked down most of the bloody fences but who cares.

“We got the horses out, had to move the chickens to crab pots but we are OK — heaps of people are worse off we are very lucky.”

Danny insisted on a “massive thank you” to the rural fire brigade.

“Can’t do it without them,” he said.

Sitting back in his camping chair at the Canungra Showgrounds staring and the smouldering horizon, Terry Monaghan struggled to tear his eyes from the sight.

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His family home was under the thick cloud of smoke right in front of him.

“We live there,” he said pointing to the mountain ridge in flames.

“We shouldn’t have set up here, it’s a front-row seat,” he said.

Like his neighbours he and his family escaped from the inferno to the safety of the Canungra show grounds, only to have his caravan facing the sizzling horror that was slowly enveloping his home.

“I had to go walk down to the creek for a bit, we can’t watch it all.”

Mr Monaghan’s family had lived in the area for 12 years and on the hilltop hobby farm with his wife and daughter for two.

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Volunteer firefighters have been tireless in their efforts to save Coast properties and bushland. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

The property has three homes but Mr Monahan said he expects at best only one would be saved.

After spending a sleepless night clearing his horses, dogs and other animals with the help of friends and neighbours, he said he can only sit and wait.

“It’s hard because we know what is happening, we did all we could and had so much help,” he said.

“Now we are just waiting, I know the feed and fencing is gone.

“Or we could lose everything.”

Originally published as ‘I can’t watch it’: Residents unite as fire tears through hinterland