Fraser Island residents told to prepare to leave as bushfire burns near Happy Valley

A bushfire burning on Fraser Island could impact Happy Valley village and residents have been told to prepare to leave.

An update from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the fire was burning 3.5km north-west of Happy Valley on Sunday and conditions could get worse.

“People in the vicinity of Happy Valley [when asked to leave] should leave the area to the Eastern Beach and head south towards Eurong,” it said.

As of 10.15am (AEST) on Sunday, the fire was travelling south-east towards Yidney Lake, between Moon Point Road and Old Happy Valley Road.

The bushfires were sparked by an illegal campfire on 14 October and have destroyed at least 82,500 hectares of the national park.

The fire continues to burn on multiple fronts on the east and west sides of the island.

About 100 specialist firefighters are on the ground.

They are being supported by fixed-wing bombers, heli-attack bombers, air attack platforms, an air observation platform, a large aerial tanker and an LAT lead plane.

Fraser Island is about 250km north of Brisbane, 123km long and covers 181,851 hectares.

source: theguardian.com