Fraser Island bushfire burns through more than 70,000 hectares as holidaymakers urged to stay away

Holidaymakers are being asked to stay away from Fraser Island as authorities struggle to control a large bushfire that’s expected to spread over the coming days.

Reinforcements are today being sent to help consolidate control lines across the expansive island ahead of an expected unfavourable wind change this weekend.

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The fire has burnt through 72,000 hectares of land on the World Heritage-listed island since starting from an illegal campfire on October 15.

Rural fire service area director Michael Koch said the wind was due to switch from a southerly to a northerly on Sunday and could potentially turn the bushfire towards communities of Happy Valley and Cathedrals on the island’s eastern side.

On Friday morning, the fire was north of…