FIRE SEASON - IT'S ALREADY HERE

SOARING TEMPERATURES HAVE SPARKED BLAZES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Beerwah residents on Queensland's Sunshine Coast were advised to be ready to flee their homes on Monday, September 18, as plumes of smoke filled the sky from a fast-moving grassfire.

Up to 60 crews of firefighters battled the flames as staff at nearby Australia Zoo remained on high alert as the fire raged on.

At 3.27pm, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services issued a 'prepare to leave' warning for homes between Steve Irwin Way, Irwin Road, Mawsons Road and the Bruce Highway, including Holt Road.

Local business owner, Tamara Hazelden tells New Idea the scenes were "chaotic".

"Helicopters were flying around, we had multiple planes in action dumping water, so we knew it was pretty bad," says Tamara, 32, who was among community members who delivered daily ute-loads of groceries to firefighters battling the blaze.