Two hectares caught alight at Tindappah Drive, Thornlands

Buses were ready and waiting to evacuate a Redlands retirement village from a massive fire when the wind changed, it’s been revealed.

Emergency services are battling to contain a two hectare blaze at Thornlands, as Redland residences fill with smoke. Here’s what we know.

Buses were ready and waiting to evacuate a Redlands retirement village from a ferocious bushfire on Wednesday when the wind changed, it has been revealed.

Earlier in the day residents at the Bolton Clarke Retirement Village in Thornlands had been ordered to stay inside and were issued masks as a 2ha blaze edged close to the facility.

Counsellor Paul Golle said buses were on standby to evacuate the residents if the blaze came too close.

Speaking on Friday evening Cr Golle said the fire had been brought under control after “water bombs” were used.

“Redland City Council Council fire management teams are cutting the containment areas and firebreaks. They will be doing the mopping up now,” he said.

Fire crews remained on site but the “fire was changing directions consistently with the wind,” he said.

Earlier Cr Golle had described the scene.

“The smoke is thick and there is lots of debris in the air, earlier you couldn’t see houses or the tops of trees,” he said.

“The flames have travelled from the back of the Waterline Crescent Estate, past Pinklands (sports grounds) and towards the retirement village.

Nearby Tindappah Rd was also closed off by emergency services

“The area is bush and paperbark trees,” a Queensland Fire and Rescue Services spokesman said.

Emergency services are battling to contain a two hectare blaze at Thornlands, as Redland residences fill with smoke.

“The fire is ongoing as there has been difficulty accessing the area.

“It is moving slowly in a north-westerly direction,” he said.

Local residents flooded social media saying smoke was entering their homes.

Mary Crean, of Cleveland, said her home, 4km away from the fire, has began to fill with grey smoke.

“We’ve had to close all of our doors and windows as my son is an asthmatic,” Ms Crean said.

“The smell of smoke is very strong,” she said.