Third time unlucky as fire hits Coast suburb
Residents in an area of the Sunshine Coast have been forced to flee their homes for the third time in four months, after another fierce blaze tore through.
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RESIDENTS in an area of the Sunshine Coast have been forced to flee their homes for the third time in four months, after another fierce blaze tore through Peregian Springs.
Firefighters and water bombing aircraft worked to contain the large bushfire that ripped through the area threatening multiple homes on both sides of the Sunshine Mwy, with 79 fire vehicles on the scene and three more on their way last night.
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Residents in Lakewood Drive and Monak, Nyell, Doonan Bridge Rd North and Grays Rd were forced to evacuate about 1pm, with police making an emergency declaration as the fire spread in a north westerly direction.
The fire is the third since Peregian Springs and Peregian Beach were hit at the start of September, followed by Coolum Beach in late October.
Residents remained stuck on Old Emu Mountain Rd waiting to return home yesterday evening, saying they were concerned and on edge after the last fires tore through the region.
“It didn’t get as far as us last time but it’s the smoke, that’s what you have to be worried about,” Julie Kievel said.
“We were out shopping and we didn’t really know and were worried.
“My husband was sort of running around the house saying ‘what should I do, what should I bring, what do you want me to get?’”
The emergency declaration for Perigian Springs was revoked about 8.50 last night.
The Sunshine Motorway from Emu Mountain Rd and Walter Hay Drive to Perigian Springs turnoff with Murdering Creek Road remained closed due to a smoke hazard.
Meanwhile, three people were injured fighting the fires and multiple homes were feared destroyed in a blaze in the Wide Bay area, north of Brisbane.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said three homes had been lost in the Lowmead and Mount Maria fire – two on Tuesday night and one on Monday.
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