Gold Coast Bushfires: Police suspect arson in fires which destroyed Binna Burra
Arson is believed to be the cause behind the horror bushfires which swept the Gold Coast Hinterland and destroyed the iconic Binna Burra lodge. The state’s police commissioner has revealed who cops are hunting.
Gold Coast
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POLICE are investigating a “number of people” over the bushfires which have raged through the Gold Coast Hinterland.
More than 10 properties were destroyed by the devastating bushfires during the past week, including the famous Binna Burra Lodge.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the ongoing investigation was “quite complex” but that officers had suspects in their crosshairs.
She confirmed arson had not been ruled out
“We do have concerns about how this fired started,” she said, speaking from Beechmont yesterday.
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“We will be relentless in pursuing whoever it was who lit the fire, not just here but across the state.
“We have a number of people we are looking at and this investigation will continue until we have an outcome.”
Commissioner Carroll called on locals to continue coming forward with any tips to help catch the firebugs responsible.
“The locals have been wonderful in coming forward with a lot of information and it is a result of this that we have stopped a number of fires,” she said.
“If you see any suspicious activity out there please come forward and let us know,” she said.
HINTERLAND RESIDENTS DEVASTATED BY FIRES
Commissioner Carroll and other emergency services leaders toured Timbarra Drive where many of the houses were overrun by the fast-moving fire a week ago.
Conditions across the state have eased in recent days after tinderbox conditions which surrounded the outbreak of fires more than a week ago.
But firefighters and Hinterland residents remain on alert with fires continuing to burn in inaccessible parts of the hills near Canungra.
The fire danger remains high ahead of deteriorating conditions next week, the Bureau of Meteorology is warning.
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BoM meteorologist Sam Campbell said: “It’s going to be very warm through southern Queensland on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services last night issued a notice warning that a bushfire was burning at Binna Burra south of Mackenzie Road.
Crews will be on scene overnight to monitor and respond to changing conditions.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned fire conditions were expected to worsen in the southeast on Tuesday.
“Conditions are going to change on Tuesday and Wednesday and we need to be ready for that,” she said.
“The winds are going to pick up, it will be dry across half of the state and we are seeing temperatures which are between five and eight degrees higher than this time of year.
“There is no rain on the horizon.”
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