Gold Coast hinterland fires: Scenic Rim mayor pleads with community to not go ‘sightseeing’ bushfires

The Scenic Rim mayor has expressed his disappointment at members of the community who are blocking paths for emergency service vehicles by ‘sightseeing’ the bushfires ravaging the Gold Coast hinterland.

A GOLD Coast school will be closed tomorrow as authorities warn it could be days before residents see a reprieve from savage bushfires currently burning through the hinterland.

Beechmont State School will not open as usual tomorrow as a safety precaution for the school community.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner Kevin Walsh warned burned logs remain an active threat to homes already saved as wind conditions change rapidly.

“We still have a very dynamic fire situation in and around Binna Burra as the fires have created on top of the ridge and have moved to the other side,” he said.

“We are still very much in a defensive mode.

FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS CLOSED ACROSS QLD

A supplied image obtained Saturday, September 7, 2019 shows a fire in the Gold Coast hinterland in Queensland, Friday, September 6, 2019. (AAP Image/Supplied by Aleksandar Romanov)

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“The fact of the matter is these very difficult fire conditions that wet are experiencing this afternoon. There is no end in sight for reprieve until about Tuesday.

“Our message to the community is to remain vigilant in their situation on awareness — this still won’t be over for many days to come.”

Residents were told that the Beechmont State School is safe however there are concerns about the difficulty the drive poses for residents.

Authorities are also working to keep road corridors to Beechmont clear of unnecessary travel as it is being used as a primary road for the fire fighters.

Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen pleaded again with the public not to come to the area to sight-see the tragedy.

‘TOTALLY DESTROYED’: FIRE GUTS MUCH-LOVED HINTERLAND LODGE

Firefighters brace for the worst as fires continue to burn in the Canungra and Sarabah regions. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

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“People who do not have reason to be in the corridor from Canungra to Beechmont need to stay away at this time,” the mayor said.

“We went up this afternoon in an emergency service vehicle with flashing lights and we had a cavalcade of people dawdling along enjoying a sight seeing tour in front of us that impeded our access.

“The reality is that there are people who have not grasped the seriousness of this matter.”

As of 4pm no further properties had been lost.

Those taken earlier this week included 10 at Binna Burra and a single property at Table Top.

There have been no fatalities at this stage.

“Some areas have suffered some loss but many of the residents we have in the area have self relocated,” Cr Christensen said.

Some residents are being allowed to return to their properties with the help of emergencies services to attend to animals.