LATEST: Cooler weather offers little relief for Gold Coast fires
There are slight improvements to fire conditions on the Gold Coast today, but firefighters warn it won’t last, with crews still on scene at several fires.
Gold Coast
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FIREFIGHTERS are continuing to battle several blazes on the Gold Coast, despite a slight improvement in conditions on the ground.
Today the fire danger has dropped to “very high” on the Gold Coast, with light winds and cooler temperatures are expected to offer some relief.
Temperatures are forecast to top 29C in Nerang and Coomera, while Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and Robina are tipped to reach 27C.
But the reprieve will be short-lived, with the threat likely to increase again by the weekend.
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It follows a busy day for firefighters yesterday with the outbreak of two new fires at Helensvale and Beenleigh.
This morning crews were at Beenleigh, near the M1, for a second day, following a flare up, but a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the situation was under control.
The Helensvale blaze, near the aquatic centre, was extinguished last night, with a crew this morning dousing smouldering embers, which were throwing small plumes of smoke into the air.
Local residents praised the work of the firefighters, who they said remained on scene until 11pm last night to make sure the blaze did not reignite.
The fire came within metres of the Helenvale Aquatic Centre, which was evacuated yesterday afternoon.
However the centre was able to re-open this morning, with swimmers seen doing laps of the pool.
Meanwhile in the hinterland crews continue to battle an existing bushfire at Lower Beechmont as well as keeping an eye on a blaze near Binna Burra which flared yesterday.
Overnight fire crews patrolled the northern containment lines of the Beechmont fire.
Local firefighters have pleaded with locals to keep drones out of fire-affected areas in the hinterland.
“They present a risk of collision with firefighting aircraft,” Lower Beechmont Rural Fire Brigade said.
“If we suspect that a drone is in the area, we need to suspend all firefighting aircraft operations in the area until we can confirm that it is safe.”
A number of local parks and recreation areas have been closed indefinitely amid the increased fire risk.
Camping grounds on South Stradbroke Island, water usage at Hinze Dam, the Wollumbin National Park and Mt Warning summit trail are among those currently off limits.
The current park closures:
-Apple Tree Park
-Bally Mountain Conservation Area
-Bonogin Conservation Area
-Cloverside Park
-Eagle Heights Conservation Area – Old Tambo Mountain Bike Trail
-Lower Beechmont Conservation Area
-Maudsland Ridge
-Numinbah Conservation Area
-Pocket Road Reserve
-The Cream Track
-Upper Ormeau Conservation Area
-Upper Mudgeeraba Conservation Area
-Wongawallan Conservation Area
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