Moreton Island Fire Sparked by Campfire, Inquiry Underway
moreton Island, QLD – Authorities are investigating a campfire as the source of a major bushfire currently burning on Moreton Island, off the coast of Queensland. The blaze, which began Saturday, has prompted a Watch and Act alert for the island and is being fought by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) crews.
Fire crews are employing waterbombing and strategic backburning, focusing on burning into the breeze to prevent the fire from spreading towards homes and crossing Telegraph Track. Approximately half of the crews were rotating shifts after working overnight until 8am Sunday.
“things are very dry and drying up fast, we just need people to be very careful,” said QFES incident controller, Peter Parker. He added, “when careless things like this happen, it has a big impact on our volunteers.”
Principal ranger with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Jay Lessons, stated Sunday’s more “favourable” windy conditions are assisting containment efforts. Crews are working to burn around 2,300 hectares of the 37-kilometre sand island. Lessons noted the last notable bushfire event on the island occurred in 2019.
Around 480 people were camping on Moreton Island over the weekend, and remaining campers are being kept informed by local authorities. Increased smoke is expected to be visible across the island and towards Brisbane over the next few days.
As of midday Sunday, three fires were listed as Watch and Act across Queensland, including the Moreton Island fire and two in the Bundaberg region – Nearum and near Gaeta Road in Takilberan.