School, airport closed by blaze (from today's local paper)

Caloundra was surrounded by flames and smoke blanketed across Coast skies yesterday, as one of the worst bushfires in memory raged out of control. More than 150 residents of aged care homes in Golden Beach's Blaxland Street and 160 students of Caloundra City School were evacuated yesterday as thick smoke spread throughout the area. The heavy air proved too much for some elderly people, who had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Worried parents rushed to take their children home, while residents of Village Life, an aged care home, were taken to the Caloundra Power Boat Club, where the Red Cross sent an emergency response team of 13 volunteers to care for victims.

The Caloundra Airport was also evacuated and the Caloundra Hospital had contingency plans in place if fire fighters failed to halt the blaze's destructive path. Caloundra Road and part of the Nicklin Way were blocked off by police for hours, effectively cutting off access to Caloundra and Golden Beach while more than 100 firefighters battled the blaze on the ground with support in the air from two water bombing helicopters. The fire came too close for comfort for some home owners, with the flames coming right up to the back of homes, as well as Caloundra Indoor Bowls Club. The fire began as a wildfire in bushland off Bells Creek Road just after 11am and despite seven fire crews immediately rushing to the area, the dry conditions and 40 knot south-westerly winds were enough to turn the bush into a tinder box. It had burned more than 400 hectares in less than three hours, making the jump from inaccessible bushland to Pelican Waters before 2pm. Triple 0 calls immediately began flooding in, as the plume of smoke spread across the Coast and residents in the immediate area started smelling smoke. By 4.30pm ground crews were reporting they had more than 70% of the fire contained, but an additional five fire trucks and crews were called up from Brisbane to help local efforts, with more placed on standby. A late wind change gave fire fighters some relief in the early evening, but they continued to fight the blaze overnight and it's thought additional heli-bombers will join the fight this morning to "get the jump on" any spot fires which may flare up mid-morning when the wind is expected to turn again. What started the fire is still not clear, but it's thought that a lightening strike from Wednesday's storms may be to blame. Police praised the fire officers who worked tirelessly to ensure there were no injuries or loss of homes.