Residents to leave Caloundra suburb as fast-moving fire burns along Bruce Highway QLD

Residents of a Sunshine Coast suburb are told to leave the area immediately due to a fast-moving, uncontrolled bushfire.

The fire is at Roy’s Road on the eastern side of the Bruce Highway, south of the Caloundra interchange.

At 5pm, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) said the fire was expected to impact the suburbs of Aura and Meridian Plains in the next two hours.

“Residents are advised to evacuate, moving in an easterly direction away from the fire at the last east exit at Aura,” a statement read.

“This fire is moving quickly and is currently uncontrolled.”

Police have declared an emergency situation under the Public Safety Preservation Act.

Many residents and businesses in the Aura estate have self-evacuated to family and friends, while police also are contacting residents.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Lake Kawana Community Centre at Bokarina.

The fire is burning on the southern side of Caloundra Road.

QFES said spot fires were likely to start up to 4km ahead of the fire front, and embers also were being thrown from the fire.

“The fire is expected to impact on the Aura and Meridian Plains community and some property may be lost,” the QFES advised.

Source: Authorities urge residents to leave Caloundra suburb as fast-moving grassfire burns along Bruce Highway – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)