Four people are charged over allegedly lighting an illegal campfire that sparked bushfire that burned for six weeks on Fraser Island
Four people have been charged over a campfire on Fraser Island that allegedly sparked a devastating blaze on the world heritage site which burned for six weeks.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service were alerted to an allegedly illegal campfire within the Duling Camp Zone of Eastern Beach, north of Orange Creek, on October 14.
Police said the rangers arrived and found a campfire that was covered in sand and radiating heat.
‘Native vegetation in close proximity had caught alight and started a wildfire to the north west of the camp site,’ a police statement read.
The out-of-control bushfire spread and burnt extensive parts of Fraser Island – also known by its indigenous name K’gari – over the following weeks.
It is estimated the inferno burned through 87,000 hectares, requiring extensive efforts from firefighters to get it under control.
More to come
Pictured: An aerial view shows smoke following a massive bushfire in Australia’s Fraser Island, also known by its indigenous name K’gari, on November 30
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