K’gari campers have been warned to abide by fire restrictions following a bushfire caused by an unauthorised campfire.

 

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is continuing to investigate an ongoing bushfire at Eastern Beach on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island), with initial indications suggesting it was started by inappropriately discarded heat beads from an illegal campfire last Friday morning.

The blaze, which is now contained and self-extinguishing, burned 280 hectares inland from the Maheno camp zone in the Great Sandy National Park, before dissipating, thanks to favourable conditions and first responders.

While the area remains closed to visitors, QPWS says there’s no ongoing threat to surrounding infrastructure or the wider environment.

Campers Warned to Abide by Fire Restrictions

K’gari Senior Ranger Linda Behrendorff praised the collaborative efforts of the responding crew, however urged campers to abide by the area’s strict fire restrictions.

‘This collaborative effort, combined with mild weather conditions and recent planned burning helped us to contain the bushfire quickly’, he said.

‘Campers need to understand that unauthorised campfires on K’gari are illegal for good reason. The conditions of this fire worked in our favour, but containing bushfires on a remote island like K’gari can be extremely challenging so we really need campers to do the right thing to keep themselves and the environment safe’, Behrendorff said.

 

3 Days on The Great Southern Lakes Hike of K'gari / Fraser Island, Louise Klatte, Lake Birabeen, sunset, white sand

Lake Birabeen on K’gari | Photo by Louise Klatte

 

On Saturday morning, while rangers patrolled the area during the fire response, another group of campers were found to have lit an illegal campfire in the same camp zone, and were issued a fine of $806.

The Queensland Government has warned campers that illegal campfires can warrant on-the-spot fines or higher court-imposed penalties.

QPWS thanked the multiple agencies that responded to the fire, including the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Queensland Fire Department, Rural Fire Service, Queensland Police, and locals.

Additional planned burns are scheduled for the area to reduce remaining fuel loads.

 

Images thanks to Louise Klatte

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