Happy Valley evacuated as Fraser Island fire rages on
Fire fighters will spend the morning trying to protect the Fraser Island township of Happy Valley, which is now threatened by worsening bush fires.
The blaze has been burning across the national park for around 7 weeks now, but has overnight caused the evacuation of Happy Valley.
It’s understood only around 40 people live in the town permanently, but it can host around 300 tourists as well.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued a ‘Leave Immediately’ message early this morning, urging anyone in the area to head for the Eastern Beach, and then travel south to Eurong Resort.
@QldFES advises a bushfire is approaching Happy Valley, Fraser Island. Leaving immediately is the safest option, as it will soon be too dangerous to drive. Anyone near the Happy Valley township should leave the area heading to the Eastern Beach and head south to Eurong Resort. pic.twitter.com/ZTQEFjdxq2
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) December 6, 2020
Around 3.30am, the fire was moving in a south easterly direction towards the Happy Valley township, and was expected to impact the town later this morning.
It comes as help from over the border moves in too, with the NSW rural fire service sending in the 737 Large Air Tanker.
It’s expected to help the already significant water bombing efforts, which yesterday alone saw more than 1.3 million litres of water dropped on the island.
That’s at least 10 times the amount of water usually poured onto a serious fire, said fire fighters.
Thank you for the support, @NSWRFS and The Marie Bashir! 👋🏼 https://t.co/SBt7gt3QvL
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) December 6, 2020
