SATURDAY, January 4:
Redland City Council and Seqwater have told Redland residents to conserve water this weekend after fires cut power to one of the area's two water treatment plants on North Stradbroke Island.
Council said water supplies on Straddie were adequate and there was no need for island residents and visitors to conserve water.
However, council said residents of the mainland and southern Moreton Bay islands of Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra, who usually get water from Straddie, should cut water use.
Council also established three possible emergency disastetr centres set up on Straddie but said there were no plans to evacuate any areas yet.
At 11am, Energex was working to restore power to more than 2023 people in the Redland city area, including at Dunwich.
Seqwater crews said the plant was not damaged in the fire, which also swept over borefields which supply the plant its water.
Redland city suburbs and the southern Moreton Bay islands are being supplied water through the Capalaba Water Treatment Plant and from around the water grid via the Eastern Pipeline Interconnector.
Redland City deputy mayor Alan Beard said the request to conserve water on the mainland was just a precaution until the water treatment system was restored and fully operating.
Early Saturday, Bay island residents and those on the northern parts of North Stradbroke Island have been told to remain vigilant and prepare for fires today.
Residents of Dunwich, Russell, Lamb, Peel and Macleay islands who believe their properties are in immediate danger should call triple zero (000).
An expected wind change to the south-east from mid-afternoon may cause smoke and potentially burning embers to affect those areas.
Crews will continue to patrol the area today but residents are encouraged to check and patrol the outside of their properties for embers and, if possible, extinguish any small spot fires.
Smoke is expected to affect the mainland at Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Cleveland and even Brisbane, throughout the afternoon.
A community meeting for all residents will be held at 1pm at the Dunwich Community Hall, corner of Ballow Road and Junner Street.
Residents should consider taking precautionary measures including wearing protective clothing, drinking lots of water, moving cars to safe locations, closing windows and doors and shutting blinds.
Pets should be brought inside and restrained with plenty of water.
Wet down fine fuels close to buildings and remove garden furniture, doormats and other items. Seal all gaps under doors and screens and fill containers baths, sinks buckets, wheelie bins, with water.
Bay island residents and those on the northern parts of North Stradbroke Island have been told to remain vigilant today.
Fire crews on North Stradbroke Island worked through the night extending containment lines and backburning.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services say the crews concentrated on backburning across Martin Way down through Enterprise Road in an effort to protect the northern end of the Island. Firefighters are now continuing to work around the Mt Hardgrave area to prepare for the anticipated change in conditions this afternoon.
Thirty fire crews and air operations will work throughout the day.
The fire is currently contained but not under control and a smoke hazard continues to affect the surrounding areas.
On Friday night the back burning operations started close to the Dunwich community on the corner of Tazi Road and Enterprise Drive around 6.30pm on Friday night. A second burn began adjacent to the Tripod Track around the same time.
The back burning aims to put a buffer between the main fire and the Dunwich community ahead of an expected wind change late on Saturday.
QFES has emphasised residents of Dunwich were not being asked to evacuate as a result of these activities.
