Residents forced to evacuate after huge Sarabah, Canungra blaze on Gold Coast

A Gold Coast resident says three of his friends were forced to evacuate their properties as a “scary” fire rips through the hinterland.

A HINTERLAND resident says three of his friends were forced to evacuate their properties in the face of a fierce bushfire at Sarabah.

Joe Bunch told the Bulletin he and his partner watched from her home on Geiger Road, between Canungra and Sarabah, as the fire crept closer on Wednesday night.

“Late last night we sat on her deck and we watched the fire come over the hill,” he said.

“It was pretty scary because I’ve got heaps of mates down that road and they’ve all been evacuated.

“One of my mates had two helicopters flying over his house dropping water. It’s been pretty hectic.”

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A bushfire continues to rage in the Gold Coast hinterland near Sarabah. Picture: Bonogin Valley Rural Fire Brigade

Mr Bunch has lived at Biddaddaba in the hinterland since he was a child and said the fire was the worst he’s ever seen.

“I’ve never seen one this big, this scary to look at,” he said.

“(My partner) should be alright, as long as the fire doesn’t jump the road and light up another part of the valley.”

Mr Bunch was hopeful backburning undertaken by the Rural Fire Service would continue to protect people, properties and farm animals.

But he feared dry conditions and winds could create a dangerous situation.

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Biddaddaba resident Joe Bunch. Picture: Luke Mortimer

“We’ve gone so long without a bit of rain, mixed with all this dry stuff on the ground,” he said.

“A little spark has just gone up and caused half a valley to be taken down.”

Mr Bunch said he had been driving around the community in his lifted four-wheel drive to check if any residents affected by the fire needed a ride.

The owner of Blackbird Country Pies & Sweets at Canungra, Lorretta Thomson, said the blaze was one of the worst she’s seen, despite living in the hinterland for more than two decades.

The Witherin resident was worried to see a major bushfire in the hills months before summer even starts.

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Owner of Blackbird Country Pies & Sweets at Canungra, Lorretta Thomson. Picture: Luke Mortimer

“It’s scary and it’s getting closer. You look out the back and you can see that,” she said.

“For the people out there, it’s just so scary for them. This is what we’ll be facing again in summer, I think.”

Ms Thomson said the “lovely” residents of Canungra have banded together to support dozens of firefighters battling the bushfire.

Canungra resident Luke O’Connor said the town’s residents have been donating to pay for snacks for the RFS crews.

“It”s a great example of community spirit,” he said.

Canungra resident Luke O'Connor. Picture: Luke Mortimer

“You may not see that sort of thing on the Goldie, but in the little towns when things go wrong everyone sort of chips in and does their bit. It’s a great little community.”

Mr O’Connor said he was living in a newer estate and “it’s probably the first time for me a fire has been this close”.

“I know a lot of other newer residents used to live on the Gold Coast, so it’s probably a new challenge for them,” he said.

Mr O’Connor had to work in Southport and said he was “really anxious” about the situation.

He’s been keeping a close eye on RFS alerts.

Driving from Canungra to Sarabah, scorched countryside bears the marks of the RFS’ determined and ongoing backburning efforts.

The fire started last weekend and it’s expected windy, hot conditions will feed the flames into Friday and potentially beyond.