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Kiwi evacuated in Queensland fires praises emergency services

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Sep 2019, 6:39PM
Bushfire approaching Peregian Beach township. (Photo / news.com.au)

Kiwi evacuated in Queensland fires praises emergency services

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Sep 2019, 6:39PM

A Kiwi living on the Sunshine Coast is praising Queensland firefighters battling bushfires near Peregian Beach.

On Tuesday night, some 79 fires were burning across Queensland, with another 52 in New South Wales.

One of the most dangerous was at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast, where more than 5000 people were evacuated from their homes on Monday night.

Steve Hollander told Heather du Plessis-Allan the dry conditions meant the fire moved quickly.

Hollander's apartment wasn't damaged but they were evacuated when a raging ball of fire was only 150 metres away.

"Amazing work done by the fire brigades here. There was 100 plus fire engines defending the town and getting right on the outskirts of where this fire was moving through the bush towards the urban sector." 

WHAT IS THE DAMAGE SO FAR?

  • There have been no fatalities.
  • Twenty-six homes have been lost so far, 17 in Queensland and nine in NSW.
  • Seventy-three homes have been damaged, 67 in Queensland and six in NSW.
  • The damage tally is expected to rise once fire-ravaged areas are checked.
  • In Queensland, one home has been lost at Peregian Springs and another "severely damaged", 11 homes have been lost at Scenic Rim, four at Applethorpe and Stanthorpe and one at Biboohra in Far North Queensland.
  • In NSW, eight homes have been lost in Drake and one at Tenterfield.
  • Dozens of outbuildings and commercial facilities have been lost in both states.
  • On the Gold Coast hinterland, the 86-year-old, heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge was completely destroyed.
  • The Bees Nest fire has burnt more than 72,000 hectares of forest and the Drake fire has burnt nearly 40,000 hectares. The two fires have respective perimeters of 300km and 171km.

 

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