‘Leave immediately’: Residents told to flee parts of Beerwah, Emerald

Water bombing planes were being used to fight two Queensland bushfires on Sunday – including one in the Glass House Mountains – as about 20 blazes burned across the state.

Water bombing planes were used to fight two Queensland bushfires on Sunday – including one in the Glass House Mountains – as about 20 blazes burned across the state.

Residents in one part of Beerwah, on the Sunshine Coast, as well as people living outside of Emerald in the Central Highlands, were on Sunday ordered to flee their homes as fires approached properties in the two areas.

The Beerwah bushfire warning was later reduced to an “advice” level, for residents to “stay informed”.

The Beerwah fire seen Sunday afternoon. Picture: Felicity Liversidge

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued a warning to residents near Emerald at 1.15pm, specifically those living along Selma Rd between the town and Fairburn Dam Rd.

Those residents were warned to leave the area immediately.

A QFES spokesman described the fire as a “large grass fire” around 2km in size and said 10 crews were battling the blaze. Another five crews had also been sent by 2pm.

However just after 6.30pm residents were advised they could “return with caution”.

Those near a fast-moving fire in Beerwah had earlier been told to immediately leave the area.

Fire crews were first sent to the Beerwah scene about 12.40pm. At least 30 fire crews were sent throughout the day.

The QFES spokesman said water bombing planes were on scene at Beerwah Sunday afternoon and crews were set up along Mawsons Rd to protect property.

At 2pm, QFES warned anyone in the vicinity of Mawsons Rd and Holt Rd at Beerwah that it was time to leave.

“A fast-moving fire is burning in Glass House Mountains National Park,” the warning read.

“It is expected to impact Mawsons Rd within the next hour.”

An updated warning, issued at 5.21pm, had reduced the warning level to “advice” and said residents should “stay informed”.

“A fire is burning in Glass House Mountains National Park. It is moving towards Mawsons Road,” it said. ‎

Other fires were burning near Bundaberg, Miles, Townsville, Rockhampton and Gladstone, with people in those areas advised to look out for smoke. Those fires are not threatening property.

Near Townsville, residents of Julago, Nome, Elliot Springs and Serene Valley were urged to “stay informed” in an alert issued just before 8.30pm on Sunday.