The view of the western section of the Lakeland fire from a property about 10 kilometres north of the blaze on Sunday night. Photo: Facebook.
A potentially devastating loss of property has so far been avoided as a bushfire continues to burn around the Cape York township of Lakeland.
Cape York Weekly understands the fire began around Butchers Hill, north-east of Lakeland, late last week and was doused by rainfall before it reignited and burnt towards The Brothers and jumped the Mulligan Highway to then engulf Mount McLean.
Rural Fire Service Queensland volunteers and property owners from around Lakeland used all the resources they could muster – including bulldozers, graders and helicopters – to battle the blaze as it headed west towards homes and agricultural infrastructure adjacent to the Peninsula Developmental Road on 22 September.
On Sunday afternoon, the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) issued a prepare to leave watch and act alert for properties in the area, which was still current when Cape York Weekly went to press on Monday.
A QFD spokesperson said there had been no structural losses recorded.
“The fire was burning within containment lines as of last night and crews were going out to check lines this morning,” the spokesperson said on 23 September.
One Lakeland property owner said while the main fire had been contained, there was still a blaze moving through thick bushland on the eastern side of the Mulligan Highway.
“It’s from the original fire at Butchers Hill and its going towards the Normanby [River] and Byerstown Range, but you can’t get into that country safely, so it’s just going to have to burn to [fire] breaks,” they said.
“We’ve got a really good community here helping each other; people were focused on saving the structures and making sure everyone was alright.”
The community can keep up-to-date with bushfire warnings here or the Queensland Fire Department Facebook page.
