Planned hazard reduction burns blanket Gold Coast suburbs in smoke on Wednesday morning
Gold Coast residents will notice smoke hanging over some suburbs this morning - here’s why.
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GOLD Coast residents will notice smoke hanging over some suburbs on Wednesday morning as planned and permitted burns are undertaken across the city and the hinterland.
Hazard reductions burns are being conducted across the local government area, according to Gold Coast rural fire brigades.
Winds blowing west directed the smoke over the Coast.
Seqwater has been burning off around Hinze Dam, while the Department of Defence has been burning around the Canungra Field Training area.
The Bureau of Meteorology also forecast foggy conditions across the Coast.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Permit to Burn map shows a range of permitted burns allowed to proceed across the city.
Gold Coast Rural Fire Brigade Group advised on Facebook that planned burns were ongoing around Hinze Dam and “in army land in Lower Beechmont”
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Seqwater also issued a statement on social media about a planned burn near Eastern Boat Ramp at Hinze Dam on Tuesday, “subject to weather conditions and other unforeseen delays”.
“The burn is likely to produce reasonable amount of smoke,” the organisation stated.
“The Eastern Boat Ramp will be closed for the duration of the burn.
“If you are visiting or travelling through the area, please remain vigilant and follow the directions of staff and signage on site.”
Lower Beechmont Rural Fire Brigade advised Defence was “taking advantage of the good weather conditions at the moment to complete their hazard reduction burn program before it becomes too dry”.
“Land managers will sweep each burn site prior to ignition and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure all fauna are clear of the burn area,” a statement on Facebook read.
The Lower Beechmont brigade also spoke of more water truck deliveries being occurring on the mountain recently.
“Just another sign that bushfire season is approaching,” the brigade stated.
“As a result of increasing bushfire activity in the region, all brigades have moved to Bushfire Preparedness Level 2 (BPL2). Gold Coast brigades have already sent a taskforce to Rathdowney in anticipation of a high risk weekend.”
The brigade stated BPL2 was the baseline level of readiness for the duration of the fire season”, signalling brigades should be “ready to activate”.
As the season progresses, and if conditions deteriorate, we progressively move up to BPL5. At the higher levels, we take steps to be able to respond quicker, like manning the station full-time or moving appliances to strategic locations,” the brigade explained.
Coast and hinterlands residents were urged to prepare to minimise the risk of bushfires to people and property.
Preparation can be done by clearing vegetation and debris away from buildings, fences, gutters, roofs and “underfloor spaces”.
Residents have also been asked to make sure suitable access is available for firefighting vehicles and to prepare and practice Bushfire Survival Plans.
Anyone with a respiratory health condition should follow relevant health advice and phone triple-0 in an emergency.
Frightening photos emerge of big blaze at The Spit
August 26: Firefighters and almost 20 vehicles from across the Gold Coast were called in to help tackle a large bushfire raging at The Spit.
The bushfire ignited north of the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Main Beach about 5pm on Wednesday and raged until nearly midnight.
The blaze which turned the sky over The Spit orange and pumped out smoke sparked emergency calls from concerned residents across the city.
No property was damaged and it’s understood no one was injured in the vegetation blaze, which was reported to be about 50x20 metres in size early in the night.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) did not have any firefighting crews on scene as of 6.10am on Thursday.
But firefighters were expected to return to patrol the area later in the morning.
The fire was largely contained and firefighting operations were downscaled from about 10pm, while the last QFES crew left about 12.40am, a QFES spokeswoman said.
Firefighters have not yet determined what caused the blaze, but there has been no indication it was deliberately lit.
Coomera Valley and Bonogin Valley rural fire brigades were two of the brigades involved in the firefighting efforts.
The Coomera brigade took to Facebook just after midnight, sharing images and details about the involvement of its firefighters.
“Two crews from our station have spent the afternoon assisting with extinguishing the bushfire at The Spit this afternoon,” a post read.
“One crew remains on scene mopping up and should be finishing up soon.
“This fire required a considerable response from brigades across the Gold Coast. Working alongside the FRS (fire and rescue service) crews, it was brought under control after several hours.”
The Coomera brigade was surprised to find The Spit very dry and fire-prone.
“Fire season is here now and the community should be aware how dry some areas are,” the post read.
“This was surprising to our crews how dry this area was and you can see the intensity of the fire well into the night.”
The Bonogin brigade also took to Facebook and said a vehicle and two crew members were helping fight the fire at The Spit.
Fire crews battle Spit blaze into the night
August 25: Twelve fire trucks have been deployed to battle a blaze on Sea World Drive at The Spit, Gold Coast.
A Queenland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the vegetation fire started north of the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort in Main Beach just after 5pm on Wednesday.
Crews were still battling the blaze five hours later, but it was understood no one was injured and no property endangered.
The spokeswoman said there had been calls from people “all over the Coast” who had spotted the orange flames from their homes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
August 20: Holden engulfed by flames on Gold Coast
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a northern Gold Coast suburb after a Holden Commodore erupted in flames.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) crew was called to Entertainment Dr at Oxenford about 6.45pm on Thursday.
The fire which started in the boot of the vehicle was “well involved” when firefighters arrived on scene.
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to extinguish the blaze, a QFES spokeswoman said.
A Gold Coast police spokeswoman said it appeared the fire was not suspicious and caused by a battery fault.
VE model Commodores have their battery stored in the boot of the car.
August 17: Police probe business fire, man charged after alleged bin blazes
Police have charged a man over a spate of bin fires under a business which were allegedly deliberately lit, while officers are also investigating a separate fire at a city grocery store.
Gold Coast police stated officers were called to a Davenport St at Southport just after 12.10am on Monday, where they found an industrial bin and three general waste bins on fire underneath a business.
“Within 10 minutes the fire was brought under control by police using garden hoses and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES),” a statement read.
“No one was injured in the incident and the fires were contained to the bins.”
Police have charged a 44-year-old man with endangering particular property by fire and wilful damage.
He was expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on August 30.
Hours later, about 5am on Tuesday, officers were called to a “small fire” at a Reedy Creek grocery store, it was stated.
“Around 5am emergency services were called after large amounts of smoke were seen coming from the roof of the Old Coach Rd business,” police said.
“Internal sprinklers activated and extinguished the small fire. Staff who had attended to work were evacuated.”
No one was injured in the incident.
Police were investigating the incident later on Tuesday morning.
QFES crews did attend and spoke to management of the business after smoke was seen coming from the roof of the store, a spokesman said.
However, he said firefighters were not able to find a blaze, despite spending more than an hour at the business.
Know more about the fires? Phone Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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