FIREFIGHTERS have had a busy start to the fire season, with a number of bushfires burning near Canungra and in the surrounding areas.
Over the past few weeks, the town has often been enveloped in smoke as both bushfires and hazard reduction burns take place on Mount Witheren, Tabragalba, Sarabah and North Tamborine.
Canungra Rural Fire Service First Officer Damon Rockliff described the fire burning on Mount Witheren as a safe fire, saying it had been burning slowly for a week in inaccessible country with no threat to homes at the time of print.
“We have been monitoring it, at times overnight, to make sure it is not threatening homes and we also conducted some back burning on the northern end of the fire to create a break,” he said.
Damon urged residents to ensure they keep their yards clear of debris, long grass and bushland to reduce bushfire risk to homes.
Although residents are required to obtain a fire permit for all fires more than two metres in any direction, he said permits may not be issued soon depending on weather conditions.
“Several burns have gotten away and the risk is too great at the moment,” he said.
Although the fires did not pose a threat to homes, many residents were affected by smoke.
A Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said the warmer temperatures have resulted in heightened fire danger for some areas.
“Power tools and machinery can spark dangerous fires, so if you are carrying out any work, carry a water supply and firefighting equipment,” he said.
“Due to the heightened fire conditions more than 100 Rural Fire Service Queensland personnel are on standby across South East Queensland to bolster local brigades.”
For current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents.
