‘Way bigger than Peregian’: Conditions test firefighters

Residents defying evacuation advice are being urged to rethink their stance as dangerous fire conditions threaten to deteriorate.

A large bushfire burns near homes beside Lake Cooroibah.

RESIDENTS defying evacuation advice are being urged to rethink their stance as dangerous fire conditions threaten to deteriorate into catastrophe.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Sunshine Coast public information officer Kim Gray said there were still some residents refusing to leave homes in areas that had been evacuated.

He said there weren’t many, but warned them not to expect a firefighter at their door if conditions worsened.

“We’ve only got a finite amount of resources,” Mr Gray said.

A bucket of water is dropped from a helicopter onto a fire at Cooroibah.

He also warned displaced residents against trying to return to evacuated areas, noting the conditions were still very dangerous.

“Resist the temptation to go back.

“Once you are out, stay out.”

He said Noosa North Shore, Noosa Banks, Ringtail Creek and areas of Cooroibah were the main concerns for firefighters on Saturday evening.

“The fire is moving in a north-westerly direction away from Amaroo Place,” Mr Gray said.

Aerial vision shows a plane dropping water on a fire front near homes on the shores of Lake Cooroibah.

He said it would likely impact an area south of Louis Bazzo Drive.

“That’s not to say a nasty wind change won’t change all of that,” Mr Gray said.

He said the current fire was “way bigger than the Peregian fires”.

It was more complex, covered a larger area and was more acutely affected by wind changes.

“With this one we are at the mercy of Mother Nature and the wind changes.”

He said three helicopters and four planes were dropping water on and observing the fire on Saturday afternoon.