Fraser Island fire: Happy Valley township battles on besieged by flames

Fires crews battling to control blazes on Fraser Island have been given some help from Mother Nature. But residents have still been told to prepare to leave.

Rain has fallen on Fraser Island overnight and some small showers are predicted to fall today but the fire ravaged island will likely miss the majority of the action.

BOM forecaster Peter Markworth this morning said there are some light showers around at the moment.

“We did see potentially falls of about 15-20mm there with a line of thunderstorms yesterday, so there was some rain in the region yesterday,” Mr Markworth said.

“Pretty unlikely to get any significant rainfall there today, it’s right on the edge of the most significant activity today.”

Firefighters now believe they are in a position to hold the fire near Cornwell’s Road, southeast of Kingfisher Bay Resort.

A southeasterly wind, expected late today or tomorrow morning, will allow firefighters to control the fire as it pushes towards already burnt land at Happy Valley.

Police revoked the emergency declaration made on Sunday night although several “Prepare to Leave” alerts were issued. One was issued for Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village at 1pm and one for The Oakes at 1.15pm.

The Happy Valley community on Fraser Island where they have stayed to fight the fire. Picture: Supplied

“Currently as at 1pm ... a bushfire is burning in the vicinity of Dundonga Fire Break, east of Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, through to Cornwells Road in the south,” the Kingfisher Bay alert said.

“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.”

The Oakes alert said a large fire was travelling in a southerly direction towards The Oakes.

Earlier, police had said residents needed to monitor conditions despite the rain providing some relief.

“The community are reminded to monitor conditions and take advice from emergency services on the ground,” police said in a statement.

Standing “shoulder to shoulder”, one defiant Fraser Island community is determined to save their tiny township from the grips of a devastating fire, which yesterday threatened homes and tore through previously unburnt parts of the World Heritage listed National Park.

Flames yesterday raged within 1km of the Happy Valley township, towards 50 homes, while about 25 watery-eyed residents, alongside dozens of volunteer fireys and crews from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services stood united in their defence of properties and livelihoods.

Elspeth Murray from the Happy Valley Community Association (HVCA) told The Courier-Mail the town felt as though they were “under attack”.

“It’s been very dramatic today (Monday) - it is horrific,” she said.

“It’s just awful, it’s boiling hot, the smoke is thick, our eyes are watering and we’re all wearing masks walking around.”

The burnt aftermath of the bush fire on world heritage-listed Fraser Island, north of the current fire front, which is in a no fly-zone. Pic Lyndon Mechielsen

Ms Murray said the HVCA, under the direction of Fraser Island veterans - including former Rural Fire Service inspector Winston Williams - had worked hard to secure their properties after the area had in 2018 been deemed “undefendable.”

“The community association was established about 18 months ago for several reasons, but one being we had so much vegetation fuel surrounding the Valley because there hadn’t been fire breaks cut around the Valley for about 12 years,” Ms Murray said.

“We had actually been deemed ‘undefendable’ from fire.”

She said for the last three weeks, the community’s had a “bring it on” attitude, as they watched their hard work being put to the test.

“We know what we’re doing,” Ms Murray said.

“We have the people who aren’t fighting fires watering their neighbours roofs. Those who aren’t fighting fires on the front line are still assisting in other ways. It’s a real team effort and a close community working together. We will be there shoulder to shoulder to see this fire through.”

Over 90 firefighters using 38 vehicles and 19 aircraft were yesterday battling numerous fire fronts on Fraser Island, while late yesterday a new ‘leave immediately’ direction was issued to residents in Yidney Rocks, about 1.5km south of Happy Valley.

The New South Wales firefighting Bomber 210 aircraft also rendered assistance.

QFES regional operations centre co-ordinator Chief Superintendent James Gill said protecting homes remained the priority for crews.

“Our goal is to not let the fire reach the township,” Chief Supt Gill said.

“We’ve been able to steer the fire around assets to date, which has been really good. There’s no immediate concern to property at the moment … There’s still a bit of heat in the wind, which doesn’t help firefighting operations, but when we get that change in weather late Tuesday or Wednesday morning, it will assist us.”

To date, approximately 82.5 thousand hectares – or just over half - of the National Park has burnt.

As a local business owner and resident, Carolyn Elder said the fire will have lasting environmental and economic impacts.

“Is just devastating to drive up the beach and see those once beautiful lush green hills all charcoaled and burnt,” Ms Elder said.

“There’s no other word for it but devastating. Devastating financially, devastating to the people that live on Fraser, it’s devastating to the economy and the ecology. We just never thought that something like this would go through Fraser Island and that more than 50 per cent of the island would burn.”

She estimated a loss of income of tens of thousands of dollars per week to her businesses, Fraser Island Towing and Rainbow Beach 4x4 Hire.

It comes as a spotlight was last week shone on Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, after it was accused of mismanaging the bushfire situation and delaying hand over management of the blaze to QFES until November 27 – almost six weeks after it started from an illegal campfire.

To date, approximately 82.5 thousand hectares – or just over half - of the National Park has burnt. Pic Lyndon Mechielsen

Criticism over the handling of the fire continued after The Courier-Mail revealed a $15 million Bundaberg-based Canadian Conair air tanker Q400AT – which is capable of dropping 10,000 litres at once – was not tasked to the island until 34 days after the Fraser Island fires started.

Despite a number of delays and red tape in relation to the devastating fires that have now been burning for over seven weeks, Ms Murray said the HVCA remain determined to save their community.

“We do feel prepared and supported at this point in time, and yes, we’re being tested, but we are going to prevail.”