Deepwater bushfire destroys home, residents told not to return

Authorities say it is not safe for residents to return to an area near Agnes Water, Queensland, where a bushfire that has destroyed a property continues to burn out of control.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) says conditions may worsen this afternoon and that residents between Capricornia Drive, Pacific Drive, Oceania Court, Muller Road and Sorensen Road should not return to their homes.

Paul Storrs from the QFES Incident Management team said firefighters had to contend with difficult conditions overnight.

"The wind expectations were around 40 kilometres per hour, but we know at some stages they peaked over 80," he said.

"Those winds cause spotting, and with the sort of country and the dryness we have out there, you really have to remain vigilant."

Mr Storr believed the fire had burnt more than 3,000 hectares of land.

"We're looking at a fair size fire now — it would've more than doubled its size yesterday afternoon when it popped out due to those wind conditions," he said.

Mr Storrs said weather conditions may be the same again today.

"During the afternoon we're going to see gusty winds and low humidity again," he said.

"The process we're going through right now is to get some fresh crews in to give those local guys a bit of a break and a bit of a sleep.

"We've got aircraft working through there today as well, so they're already on their way to begin supporting the ground crews."

Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett urged residents to remain vigilant and keep up to date on the situation.

"I''ve heard some people say about the QFES messages, 'It’s a very long message and a very detailed', but we really need people to read it because there is important information in those releases," he said.

The Rosedale Hotel and Caravan Park is ready to receive displaced people in need of shelter, owner Davina Simm says.

"We've had smoke every day but we are well out of the immediate danger," she said.

"We've currently got five dongas that have king single beds, two hotel rooms, five acres of land to pitch your tent or swag, caravan or camper and also showers and toilets."

Ms Simm said assistance would be appreciated if the situation worsened.

"For those people that haven't been able to grab camp stretchers, if anyone could loan some of those that would be amazing," she said.

Story By: ABC Wide Bay / Pat Heagney

Original Story link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-18/deepwater-bushfire-destroys-home-residents-told-not-to-return/102989814