- Volunteer firefighters praised.
Wednesday update
UPDATE: 4pm Wednesday: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advise the bushfire is currently contained and there is no immediate threat to property.
Residents need to keep up to date and decide what actions they will take if the situation changes.
As at 1.10pm Wednesday 13 March, a bushfire was burning between the railway corridor and Woppis Road, Goodwood. It is burning safely within containment lines to the north of Woodgate Road.
Due to overnight rainfall in the area, fire conditions have eased, however waterbombing aircraft continue to aid firefighting operations.
Woodgate Road is open.
Community meeting
There will be a community meeting this evening to discuss the Goodwood/Woodgate fire.
- When: 5pm to 7pm
- Where: Woodgate Community Hall (next to the bowls club)
Tuesday afternoon update
UPDATE 4.30pm Tuesday: Welcome rain has reduced the fire threat in the Woodgate area and the Woodgate Road has reopened.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) says residents should keep up to date and decide what action they will take if the situation changes.
As at 4.30pm Tuesday 11 March, a bushfire was burning between the railway corridor and Woppis Road, Goodwood, travelling in a southerly direction towards Isis River.
Due to rainfall from storms in the area, fire conditions have eased. Woodgate Road was reopened after being temporarily closed earlier this afternoon as a safety precaution.
QFES says people in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Properties are not under direct threat at this time. Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
UPDATE 3pm Tuesday: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) reports a large fire is burning between the railway corridor and Woppis Road, travelling in a southerly direction towards the Isis River.
The fire has impacted Woodgate Road, which is now closed.
QFES says residents on Woodgate Road, east of the railway corridor to Woppis Road, should leave now if they have not already done so. Residents should travel west on Woodgate Road, towards Goodwood.
It’s understood there are three properties in the affected area.
Residents in Woodgate township, east of Woppis Road, are not under direct threat at this time. However, they are unable to leave the area due to the closure of Woodgate Road. Crews will be working to reopen the road as soon as safely possible.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. Residents are advised to not expect a firefighter at their door. Power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you are under threat.
Tuesday morning update
UPDATE 10am Tuesday: The “watch and act” warning remains in place.
QFES says crews are working to create and strengthen containment lines in the area. Crews will continue backburning operations throughout the day. Aircraft are also working in the area.
- Visit here for latest information.
UPDATE 7.20am Tuesday: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) warn that conditions at the bushfire in Woodgate could get worse, and residents are advised to watch and act, and be prepared to leave.
As at 6.45am Tuesday 12 March, a large fire is travelling in a south-westerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park, heading towards Woodgate Road.
The fire is likely to impact Woodgate Road, between the rail crossing and Woppis Road.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
At 7.15am, Bundaberg Regional Council advised the waste transfer station at Woodgate will be closed today because of the fire risk.
People in the area, including as far as Childers, Howard and Torbanlea, may be affected by smoke, which may reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
What you should do
- Listen to your local radio station or visit the Rural Fire Service (RFS) website for regular updates.
- If you have a bushfire survival plan, finalise it now so you are ready to follow it.
- If you do not have a bushfire survival plan, or if your plan is to leave, identify where you will go if you leave the area.
- Advise family and friends of your plan.
- Close windows and doors to minimise smoke exposure.
- If you suffer from a respiratory condition, keep your medication close by.
- Drive with caution in low visibility conditions.
- Contact your neighbours to see if they need help preparing for the bushfire.
- Pack important documents and essential items (eg passports, birth certificates, prescription medication, food and water, and protective clothing) in case you need to leave the area.
- Put on protective clothing (eg a long-sleeved cotton shirt, boots with thick soles).
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Bring pets inside; restrain them with a leash, a cage, or inside a secure room; and provide them with plenty of water.
- Take action to protect your livestock.
- Move flammable materials such as doormats, wheelie bins, and outdoor furniture away from your house.
- Fill containers such as your bath, sinks, and buckets with water so you have access to drinking water and firefighting water.
- Close windows and doors, sealing the gaps under doors and screens with wet towels to keep smoke out of the house.
Keep up to date
- Follow QFES on Facebook (@QldFireandRescueService) and Twitter (@QldFES)
- Stay tuned to your local radio station. Find your local ABC radio station at https://radio.abc.net.au/help/offline and your local commercial radio station at http://www.commercialradio.com.au/find-a-station/queensland;
- Visit the Rural Fire Service (RFS) website at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map
More information
- For bushfire preparation tips, visit the RFS website: www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/BushFire_Safety
- For information about road closures, call 13 19 40 or visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au
Woodgate fire deliberately lit
Woodgate Rural Fire Brigade volunteers believe the blaze was deliberately lit.
“This fire is not as a result of a hazard reduction burn gone wrong but was caused by someone lighting at least five fires some distance apart across the park on Sunday morning,” the brigade told followers on Facebook.
At least one landowner suffered damage to property.
The revelation of alleged arson has angered local residents. Carol Swanson said on Bundaberg Now Facebook: “The person responsible should be hauled over the coals, pun intended. Put them on the front line to fight the fire … just no regard for anybody else’s safety.”
Janette Laczko wrote that she saw a clear alcohol bottle in the national park on Tuesday, which she placed in a bin.
“I was disgusted seeing it there and it sure did look like a fire starter in the hot temps we have been having,” she said. “On hearing about the Woodgate fire at the weekend I straight away thought of this bottle I removed and my mind pondered the thoughts of how many more bottles could have been left in just the right spots to cause a fire. The area was extremely dry and the manner in which that bottle was left laying on a wooden viewing area indicated a fire waiting to happen.”
Monday evening update
UPDATE 11.10pm MONDAY: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) expect the bushfire to impact Woodgate Road between the rail crossing and Woppis Road.
Residents are warned to watch and act, and be prepared to leave.
They should also follow their bushfire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, or intend to leave, you should be ready to leave the area because the situation could get worse quickly.
As at 11.10pm Monday 11 March, a large fire was travelling in a southerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park, heading towards Woodgate Road.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. You should not expect a firefighter at your door.
People in the area, including as far as Childers, Howard and Torbanlea, may be affected by smoke, which may reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
- Check the Bundaberg Region Disaster Dashboard for a summary of latest emergency information and road closures.
UPDATE 6.45pm MONDAY: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) warn that conditions in the Woodgate bushfire could get worse and residents should be prepared to leave.
Residents are advised to be ready to follow their bushfire survival plan. If you do not have a plan, or intend to leave, you should be ready to leave the area because the situation could get worse quickly.
As at 6.45pm Monday 11 March, a large fire was travelling in a southerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park, heading towards Woodgate Road. The fire was expected to impact Woodgate Road.
Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property. Residents should not expect a firefighter at their door.
People in the area, including as far as Childers, Eureka and Apple Tree Creek, may be affected by smoke, which may reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe your property is under threat.
UPDATE 9am MONDAY: Properties are not under direct threat at this time.
QFES advises that residents need to keep up to date and decide what action they will take if the situation changes.
As at 8.55am Monday 11 March, a bushfire continues to burn in a south-westerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park and near the western end of Woppis Road.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have closed the Kinkuna section and Woodgate section of the park.
Source: QFES Facebook
Crews will continue to conduct backburning operations in the area and will monitor the fire throughout the day.
People in the area, including areas as far as Childers, Eureka and Apple Tree Creek, will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
UPDATE 6.15pm: Properties are not under direct threat at this time.
QFES says the bushfire is burning in a south-westerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park and near the western end of Woppis Road.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have closed the Kinkuna section and Woodgate section of the park.
Crews will be backburning and monitoring the fire overnight.
People in the area, including areas as far as Childers, Eureka and Apple Tree Creek, will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
UPDATE 3.30pm: Eighteen firefighting vehicles are now at the scene. QFES advises that properties are not under direct threat at this time.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
As at 3.30pm Sunday 10 March, the fire was burning in a south-westerly direction through the Kinkuna section of the Burrum Coast National Park and near the western end of Woppis Road.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) are in the process of closing the Kinkuna section and Woodgate section of the park.
People in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
UPDATE 2.35pm: The Bundaberg Regional Council waste transfer station at Woodgate has been closed.
Seventeen QFES firefighting vehicles are combating the blaze.
EARLIER 1.45PM: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have issued a bushfire advice warning for Woodgate.
Residents are asked to stay up to date and decide what actions they will take if the situation changes.
As at 1.25pm on Sunday 10 March, a bushfire was burning north of the Woodgate township in the Kinkuna National Park.
Multiple QFES crews were attending the blaze near Woppis Road.
QFES says people in the area will be affected by smoke, which will reduce visibility and air quality.
Properties are not under direct threat at this time. Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you believe you or your property is under threat.
