Firefighters fear significant property losses, with scores of blazes still burning in Queensland and NSW

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Hundreds of people are holed up in evacuation centres on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast as crews wait to see how many homes have been lost to a ferocious fire, while firefighters in New South Wales are still battling out-of-control fires near the border.

There are fears of significant property losses, with a destructive blaze still burning out of control at Peregian Beach and Peregian Breeze Estate, south of Noosa.

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An emergency warning remains in place there after residents were ordered to get out on Monday as the fast-moving fire closed in. At least two homes have been lost in the Peregian Beach area.

On Tuesday morning, authorities advised the fire was fast-moving and heading to the north, towards Marcus Beach.

Johnpaul Gonzo (@JohnpaulGonzo) Inside the fire zone on the Sunshine Coast. Peregian Beach residents have been ordered to leave immediately. 📸 Stephen Malligan @10NewsFirstQLD pic.twitter.com/3L9tl1jvC6

“We can confirm there are two homes that have been destroyed by fire and one shed,” a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner, Mike Wassing, told the Nine Network.

“We will be doing more assessments this morning and do understand there will be certainly some impact on some other homes given the conditions were absolutely horrendous.”

The fire is burning on the boundary of the Sunshine Coast regional council and the Noosa shire council, with about 400 people fleeing to evacuation centres in both areas.

A warning to leave immediately remains in place for Peregian Beach and Peregian Breeze Estate. Prepare to leave warnings are in place for residents north of the fire front at Weyba, Weyba Downs, Peregian Springs, Castaways Beach and Marcus Beach.

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The Sunshine Coast’s acting mayor, Tim Dwyer, was near the fire front until late on Monday and said the ferocity of the blaze had been startling.

“It’s really just hard for me to explain it,” he told ABC radio. “But just the glow of the flames in the sky last night, the smell of the fire, the look of angst on the faces of the people.”

He spent time with evacuees holed up at the Coolum surf cub, which is serving as a refuge centre. “The frustration, the angst, the uncertainty. You could just see it written all over their faces. These are really trying times.”

Sunshine Coast council’s disaster management coordinator, Cathy Buck, says the danger is far from over, with strong winds that fuelled the fire to continue on Tuesday. “It’s still very dangerous on the ground,” she told the ABC. “They are doing everything they can to save as much as they can.”

At the peak of the Peregian fire more than 100 crews were on the ground battling to protect homes, as the fire spotted well ahead of its front. Dramatic footage has been shared online of sustained ember attacks from the fire, with the night sky glowing orange with burning ash.

Queensland Police (@QldPolice) Some people are trying to gain access to the #Peregian exclusion zone via the beach. This is extremely dangerous. Please stay away as the emergency declaration is still in place. #bushfire pic.twitter.com/OUDpdIktV5

There are 70 fires still burning across Queensland, with 12 schools closed on Tuesday in the state’s south.

More than 1,000 Sunshine Coast properties are without power, after authorities made the decision to cut supplies.

A photographer, Lachie Millard, of Peregian Beach, evacuated his toddler and dog to Noosa before returning for precious possessions. “It was just black smoke coming straight for our house and for our street,” he told the Courier-Mail.

The Bureau of Meteorology says winds will remain high on Tuesday but there will be a slight improvement in conditions.

In NSW, firefighters are still battling out-of-control blazes in the state’s north, off the east coast, amid fears that a southerly change could push one of them towards Yamba.

Fire has already burned more than 7,750 hectares in the Yuraygir national park and Shark Creek in the Clarence Valley south of Yamba on the coast, where fire crews are trying to protect homes.

Some 58 fires are burning across NSW, with most in the state’s north up to the Queensland border. To date, six homes have been destroyed in the state as well as 22 outbuildings, two car yards and a pistol club.

On the upside, the fire services said more than 200 homes had been saved.

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The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a high fire danger rating for several regions on Tuesday, including the far north coast, the north coast, New England, the central ranges and the greater Hunter. The risk will be very high in the northern slopes region.

Meanwhile, more than 40,000 hectares have been razed around Long Gully Road near Drake in the Tenterfield area after strong winds fanned the flames on Monday.

“Firefighters worked overnight with property owners along both these roads to protect properties as the fire front approached,” the fire service said. “The fire has progressed towards Timbarra. Strong winds are expected to continue.”

There are watch and act warnings for Drake and Shark Creek, as well as Bees Nest inland from Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast. That fire is burning north of Ebor and north-west of Dorrigo and firefighters responded overnight to multiple calls for help to protect properties.

So far more than 66,500 hectares in the area have been affected.

“Strong west to south-westerly winds are currently affecting the area,” the fire service said. “This will continue to push the fire in a north-easterly direction.”

Dense bushland means the Bees Nest fire is likely to take weeks to contain.

More than 630 firefighters were deployed to fight 60-plus fires burning across the state as of Monday afternoon.