'Absolute tragedy': Fraser Island blaze downgrades, but conditions set to worsen
The Fraser Island bushfire has been downgraded from 'prepare to leave' to 'advice level' as firefighting efforts have reduced the intensity of the blaze engulfing almost half of the island.
The fire burning in the vicinity of Dundonga Fire Break, east of Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, through to Cornwells Road in the south on Saturday.
The bushfires and their impact on Fraser Island in late November, still burning almost two months after being sparked by an alleged illegal and poorly extinguished campfire.Credit:Vicki Neville / Tasman Venture
Ground crews are being assisted by water bombers and heavy plant equipment to strengthen a fire containment line along Cornwells Road in the south.
The eastern side of the fire was about 3.5 kilometres to the north west of Happy Valley.
"People in the vicinity of Eli Creek, Yidney Rocks, The Oakes and Poyungan Valley should stay informed as the fire continues to burn in inaccessible terrain," the alert said.
"Smoke will affect visibility and air quality on K’gari (Fraser Island) and adjacent mainland areas over the coming days."
Firefighting crews are bracing themselves as the heatwave in south-east Queensland was set to worsen on Sunday.
Access to the island was restricted to local residents, essential service providers and emergency services.
"Residents, campers and visitors already on the island should limit their movements to within close proximity of where they are staying and avoid travelling on the inland tracks and roads," the alert said.
LNP environment spokesman Sam O’Connor said losing almost half of Fraser Island was "an absolute tragedy" and believed the state government acted too late.
"They resist cool controlled burns and that needs to change," he said.
"They've been spruiking a target of 5 per cent and on Fraser [Island] and you can see the results.
"We’ve lost almost half of this world heritage listed area in a time of year where the tourism operators really need to get people over there.
"It’s been their toughest year on record. They just seem to have resisted and this is the outcome ... we’ve lost a lot of land that could’ve been avoided."
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service advised travellers to check on campfire restrictions before visiting national parks in the bush or coast as fire dangers remained very high.
There were also fire prohibitions in place for open fires, including wood fires, across southern Queensland national parks.
Jocelyn Garcia is a journalist at the Brisbane Times, covering breaking news.