K’gari / Fraser Island bushfire

A dangerous bushfire on K’Gari / Fraser Island was “within a couple of kilometres” of popular camping spot Cathedrals on Saturday, according to emergency responders.

Rural Fire Service Maryborough area director Michael Koch said crews were liaising with the operators of the facility and all campers and visitors had left the area on Saturday.

In a 6:00pm update, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said a large bushfire was in the vicinity of Lake Bowarrady and travelling in a southerly direction towards the Happy Valley township, which was earlier told to be on alert.

Properties were not under direct threat at the time of the update.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Rangers are searching for campers who are thought to have sparked the large bushfire that has burned through more than 25,000 hectares of national park on the island.

The blaze is unlikely to be extinguished until there is significant rain.

There could still be closures during the upcoming Christmas school holidays.

The fire forced the evacuation of 10 camping zones and a ranger station on the World Heritage-listed island.

Key points:

• All campers and visitors left camping spot Cathedrals on Saturday
• The Happy Valley township was on alert
• Campers are thought to have sparked the large bushfire that has burned through more than 25,000 hectares of national park

Managing this fire’s particularly challenging where it is at the moment, we will need to get some decent rains to help us contain the fire.

Source
ABC News