Assistance for Gaeta community

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Bundaberg Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch survey the destruction of the Gaeta fires.

Max Fleet

PREMIER Anna Bligh flew in to Bundaberg yesterday to assure fire-affected residents and exhausted firefighters they would get the support they needed in the wake of the region's biggest ever fire.

Ms Bligh said among other emergency plans for the area, 34 more New South Wales firefighters would be deployed to Gaeta, where fires have already torn through 30,000 hectares of land.

“It's clear that the Bundaberg region has seen the most fires ever recorded here,” Ms Bligh said.

“Locals will get the much-needed relief they need.”

Ms Bligh said it was the largest sustained fire in this area's history, as well as the largest use of aerial equipment and deployment of New South Wales firefighters.

She said it would be a “long recovery” for the Gaeta community, and the state government would provide assistance with fencing, fodder and water relief.

“State government resources will be used to get work gangs out there as soon as possible,” she said of the fencing issue.

Meanwhile, the fires have continued to burn, as emergency services crews work to contain the blaze across five sectors.

Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police and State Emergency Service have also provided assistance to tiring fire crews.

Crews finalised the construction of a control line along Charnwood Road and started backburning operations near Kalpowar Road, a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said.

Bundaberg Regional Councillor Wayne Honor said farmers needed help mending fences so cattle could be contained, and both volunteers and farmers needing assistance could telephone the Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre on 4130 4630.

Related:

Gaeta farmers rise from the ashes

Gaeta fire update

Bundaberg aflame

Be ready for fires

Read more about the fires at Gaeta

Keep up-to-date with fires and fire bans in Bundaberg region.

Get up-to-date weather information for the Bundaberg region.

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