Fire that razed half of Fraser Island finally contained

“With the help of welcome rainfall and a massive response from crews, the fire is now contained and QFES is today handing back control of the fire to [the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service].”

Visitors have been banned from the island since late November.

Queensland’s Opposition, as well as businesses, residents and tourists, have been critical of the state government’s handling of the crisis, which LNP fire spokesman Dale Last said fell “well short of the mark”.

Local rangers were battling the blaze alone for the first month until QFES firefighters were sent in to help once conditions worsened.

The specialist large air tanker, leased by the government for a $15 million five-year term in September, sat at its Bundaberg base until…