Firefighters continue to battle Koah blaze
UPDATE 6.19pm: A fire that started on the Tablelands is burning close to properties near Koah.
Authorities and residents are continuing to fight a large grass fire near Koah which flared up at the weekend.
A 700-metre fire front is burning within containment lines near Palm Valley Road, Koah Road, Grievson Road, Brickworks Road, Bolton Road, Helen Close, Dominikovic Close, Natasha Close and Kanervo Road
Incident controller John Lindsay told ABC Far North 10 crews and thirty firefighters were on site as of Monday evening, working in tandem with two helicopters in the area.
“At this stage we don’t have any properties under threat but we do have several properties under watch,” Mr Lindsay said.
“They are the ones along O’Neil Close and Cedar Park Road.
“There was a predicted wind change and we have been monitoring that closely. It is a concern with our back burning but all crews are mindful of that change coming through.”
Mr Lindsay said residents in the immediate vicinity should enact their bushfire survival plans.
“[People should] remain vigilant of this fire,” he said.
“It is really important that people clean up their properties.
“If people that live on O’Neill Close are not going to be on their properties during the day, they need to let the police know.
The Kennedy Highway has been affected by the blaze.
“There will be crews moving along the highway and there will be some slow moving sections,” Mr Lindsay said.
“Exercise some common sense. If there’s smoke on the road, slow down and drive to conditions.”
Bushfire ADVICE message for #Koah (west of #Cairns) as at 1pm Mon 5 Dec: https://t.co/fBahMPFWIa
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) December 5, 2016
Cedar Park Resort resort owner Jane Danford said the blaze came within 1.5 kilometres of her property.
“It was a pretty spectacular show,” Ms Danford said.
“I wasn’t worried yesterday. But there’s smoke billowing up now this afternoon.
“I’m actually a little worried now … it’s coming from a different direction. I can see billowing white and brown smoke coming towards our property.
“We do have a fire plan and a dam. We’re putting our fire plan into action, getting rid of tinder and anything off our roof.”
Ms Danford said a warm spring had made for dangerous fire conditions.
“It’s been extremely dry,” she said.
“The trees are drooping and the leaves have turned dry. Everything is very dry up here at the moment.”
The threat isn't over yet for Koah residents as exhausted fire crews enter a third night of battling a bushfire. https://t.co/ALhO071DC6
— 7 News Cairns (@7NewsCairns) December 5, 2016
Koah Hall caretaker Sophie McGrath said residents had been chipping in to help firefighters.
“It was very smoky earlier. There have been people helping with the fire, moving animals. It’s definitely of concern to us,” Ms McGrath said.
“We’re asking people if they have donations of food that they would like to offer us, we’re using the hall as a drop-off point.
“The firefighters are very busy at the moment and they’d rather people didn’t just drop off food to them directly.
“There’s been great community support so far.”
Residents are advised to call Triple Zero (000) if they believe their property comes under threat.
Regular updated information will be provided on the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFS) website at https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au or listen to ABC local radio.
