‘Critical’ preparation underway as Gold Coast hinterland bushfire blaze worsens

More than 680 hectares has been lost to fire as a blaze continues to rip through the Gold Coast hinterland. But firefighters fear the worst may be yet to come.

SCENIC Rim firefighters backed by colleagues from across the southeast have ramped up backburning to halt the spread of a bushfire ripping through the region.

Rural Fire Service Incident Controller Kaye Healing has been managing firefighting efforts from Canungra Fire Station.

She said about 20 trucks and 60 firefighters were on the ground around Sarabah, south of Canungra.

RFS Incident Controller Kaye Healing at Canungra Fire Station. Picture: Luke Mortimer

Ms Healing said no animals or people had been reported injured and no properties had been damaged.

“It’s a really great result considering the conditions we’ve had,” she said.

However, the blaze has already burnt out 680 hectares.

HINTERLAND BUSHFIRE RAMPS UP FOR SECOND DAY

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

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Firefighters have been backburning and working on dozer lines to protect properties ahead of an expected worsening of conditions tomorrow.

“We’re working on flanks and all the burning we’ve done around homes yesterday is being checked, monitored and being continued to be strengthened,” Ms Healing said.

Winds have died down in the hinterland, but temperatures remain quite high, hovering at about 30 degrees.

“The wind will be quite bad tomorrow. We’re preparing before conditions worsen. It’s absolutely critical,” Ms Healing said.

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

“Everything has been preheated before the conditions worsen tomorrow.”

Ms Healing said no properties had been evacuated by the RFS, but residents have left of their own accord.

“We don’t get advised if people go somewhere to get some clean air or don’t like the environment,” she said.

“Some people are scared of fires, some people aren’t and if people have chosen to leave the area for the time being, we don’t know about that.”

COAST SUBURBS MOST AT RISK FROM BUSHFIRE INFERNOS

The Rural Fire Service are fighting a bushfire in the Gold Coast hinterland at Sarabah on a number of fronts.

There was no spotfires or breakouts complicating the situation as of 11.30am.

Some firefighters have suffered from exhaustion, but have avoided heat stress.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) issued a Prepare to Leave warning this morning, after the notification was reduced to a “Stay Informed” level last night.

Ms Healing said it’s not known what caused the fire at this stage.

She was “so proud” of the fire crews involved in the ongoing battle and said about 70 per cent of those who pitched in to help were from our of town.

There is currently a total fire ban in the region.