Residents told to evacuate as bushfire rages at Beerwah and Glass House Mountains

Residents of a rural central Queensland town have been told to ‘leave immediately’ as a fast moving bushfire makes its way towards people and houses, putting ‘lives at risk’. 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued the warning to residents of Emerald at around 1.15pm on Sunday, saying the warning area covered homes along Selma Road between Emerald and Fairbairn Dam Road. 

There is a second fire burning in the Glass House Mountains National Park near Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast. 

The warning area also included the Fairbairn State Forest and residents had to leave immediately, the service said. 

‘A fast-moving fire is burning near (Fairbairn) State Forest. It is expected to impact Selma Road within the coming hours,’ the warning said.

‘Your life could be at risk. It will soon be too dangerous to drive.’

Firefighting aircraft were being used to help crews on the ground contain the fire.

The service warned people in Emerald to call triple zero if their lives were in danger, and to not expect a firefighter at their door.

Power, water and mobile phone services could soon stop working, smoke would make it hard to see and breathe, and it would be hot and loud with potential explosions nearby, the service said.

It warned people to check for road closures before they left via the QLD Traffic website and said if they didn’t leave, they could be isolated.

Those who could not leave safely were advised to find a safe place to shelter, preferably in a brick building, and to seal vents.

More to come…