Fire crews respond to fire at Doug Jennings park at The Spit

Emergency services rushed to the scene of a bushfire at a popular Gold Coast park in the early hours of the new year. See photos of the damage.

Clouds of smoke were billowing from a Gold Coast beachside hot spot as fireys started the new year battling a bushfire.

Five fire crews responded to the blaze just after 4am on January 1 on Seaworld Drive at Main Beach.

The fire was at The Spit, near Doug Jennings park. Photo: supplied, Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade.

The fire, near Doug Jennings park at The Spit, was not putting any people or structures at risk, a Queensland Fire Department spokesman said.

He said two fire and rescue crews and three rural fire crews worked to put out the fire by 6am.

The Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade, Mudgeeraba Rural Fire Brigade, and Clagiraba Rural Fire Brigade were all involved in the effort. Photo: supplied, Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade.

By 6.30am, the crews were working to dampen the last remaining hot patches.

Paramedics were on standby at the incident, but no injuries were reported, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman could not confirm whether police would be looking into the cause of the fire.

Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade member Wayne Teece said he and his crew received a text calling them to action at 4.40am.

Mr Teece said fire and rescue teams already had the fire under control by the time they arrived.

He said they spent hours working to dampen the whole area to ensure there was no further risk.

Mr Teece said conditions at The Spit could be dangerous because of wind in the area.

He said he was very thankful to the volunteer crews, who have to make sure they’re ready to attend emergencies at the drop of a hat.

“They give up partying with their family and their friends to make sure they’re ready to go,” Mr Teece said.

“It’s phenomenal.”

One witness who was at a New Year’s rave at The Spit was concerned for the safety of fellow partygoers as the wind threatened to force the fire toward them.

“It was nuts,” they said.

“We were all just off our heads with this fire coming towards us and no one seemed to be taking it seriously.”

The witness, who grew up around bushfires, said they sprung into action – concerned for the welfare of the group.

“The wind was blowing at us I was like, ‘guys we need to go’,” they said.

“But people weren’t listening so I called triple-zero and I was like, ‘there’s a fire at The Spit. I’m at a rave in the bush here with all these people and the fire is coming at us. No one is leaving because they are off their heads – can you get a firetruck around here to get everyone out’.

“Once they realised what I was saying they sent people to find us and got everyone out.”

Rural fire brigades in Queensland are made up of volunteer firefighters. Photo: supplied, Coomera Valley Rural Fire Brigade.

A fire tore through a park at The Spit on New Year's Day. Photo: supplied, Mudgeeraba Rural Fire Brigade.

A fire tore through a park at The Spit on New Year's Day. Photo: supplied, Mudgeeraba Rural Fire Brigade.

A fire tore through bushland at The Spit on New Year's Day. Photo: George Manolis.

A fire tore through bushland at The Spit on New Year's Day. Photo: George Manolis.