Homes destroyed by fire in massive blaze at Noosa North Shore
UPDATE: Three homes in Noosa were reduced to rubble following a day of dangerous fire conditions.
QLD News
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RIVERFRONT homes were reduced to rubble following a day of dangerous fire conditions that authorities hope will ease on Sunday.
Three homes at Noosa North Shore were lost when a fire tore through the properties about 12.30pm Saturday.
Two more homes received sustained exterior damage as firefighters spent more than two hours bringing the blaze under control.
Devastated homeowners were on Saturday night sifting through the damage but luckily no one was injured.
Michael Hancock said he was shattered to lose treasured possessions in the blaze, including a portrait of his son who died 22 years ago.
“One minute I was enjoying my grandson’s birthday at Australia Zoo. The next, I got a call to say my house was on fire,” he said.
“The house we can rebuild but our treasured possessions, we are shattered to lose.
“We had a beautiful portrait of our son who we lost 22 years ago above the fireplace. We have lost it now.”
It comes after 40 firefighting crews in Caloundra battled a large bushfire that burnt 700 hectares of land and threatened homes and the popular Corbould Racecourse.
Firefighters were on Saturday night still fighting the massive blaze. It is understood the blaze is within containment lines but is yet to be extinguished.
Another fire at Peregian Springs is also understood to be extinguished.
Hot, dry and windy conditions on the Sunshine Coast have wreaked havoc in the past 48 hours, including the destruction of five caravans at a Kilcoy caravan park Saturday afternoon. Two of them were rented as permanent homes
Investigations were on Saturday night being carried out at both the Noosa North Shore scene and at Kilcoy to determine the cause of the fires.
Firefighters are hopeful easing weather conditions will on Sunday bring some relief in controlling a number of fires.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner Mark Roche said unpredictable gale-force winds were of deepest concern.
“We believe we will be managing this fire for the next couple of days,” he said.
“We’ve got plans in place to make sure not only the safety of the community but the safety of buildings up there.
“Our concern with the weather is gale force winds – very unpredictable.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting lighter winds on Sunday and the slight chance of rain Monday.
Mr Roche said smoke inhalation was of concern to firefighters.
“There were a number of warning messages, or watch and act message, advising people to move out and move out quickly,” he said.
“We didn’t believe we had any real concerns about the structures they were living in. It was more about the smoke and the impact that smoke would have on the community.”
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said that it was a timely reminder for Queenslanders to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season.
EARLIER
THREE homes on Noosa’s North Shore have been destroyed after a massive blaze broke out this afternoon.
Emergency crews were called to the scene on Noosa River Road around 12.40pm.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the waterfront houses.
TONIGHT on #9News, fires across the state cause havoc and destroy homes. SEE IT FIRST on 9 News at 6.00pm. pic.twitter.com/ywjTWg4IKr
— Nine News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) August 19, 2017
Firefighters had managed to contain the blaze by 3pm and no one was injured
Final investigations were being conducted this afternoon.
It is not yet known what caused the blaze.
In a second incident, fire has torn through a caravan park in Kilcoy, destroying five caravans and causing damage to a further three.
Fire investigators were this afternoon on scene trying to establish the cause of the blaze, which broke out on William St around midday.
Three cabins also sustained minor heat damage from the fire.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service crews were able to contain the fire by 12.18pm and there were believed to be no injuries as a result.
The two fires came after a large bushfire flared back up on the Sunshine Coast this morning, forcing the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service to upgrade its bushfire threat warning.
The QFES has since managed to bring the large bushfire under control.
Incredible escape for these residents as their homes are lost at Kilcoy @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/7OjpZd47lM
— Clare Hunter (@clarephunter9) August 19, 2017
Fire crews were still on scene this afternoon near Little Mountain (Caloundra) however report that there was no threat to property at this time.
Crews are expected to continue work in the area to strengthen containment lines and fire breaks.
The fire will be monitored throughout the night in case of any further flare ups.
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