QFES issues a warning to avoid smoke in Cooran, Traveston

Residents of several rural areas south of Gympie have been warned about a bushfire burning between three populated areas.

An “avoid Smoke” warning has been issued on Friday, April 14, 2023 for Cooran, Pinbarren, and Traveston for a planned burn in the vicinity of the townships.

Residents of the Cooran and Traveston region are being warned to stay indoors and keep windows closed as smoke from a planned burn in the area.

Queensland Emergency and Fire Services issued a smoke warning about the bushfire, which is burning 20km south Gympie between Traveston, Pinbarren, and Cooran, at 10.17am Friday.

The fire is a planned burn carried out by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to reduce fuel loads in the area.

“This will help reduce the intensity of any subsequent wildfires, and provide favourable conditions for natural forest regeneration,” a QFES spokesman said in a media release about the burn.

Residents of the affected area have been urged to avoid driving through smoke, stay indoors, keep respiration medicine handy, and refer to their bushfire survival plans.

More details to come.

Originally published as QFES issues a warning to avoid smoke in Cooran, Traveston