Residents allowed to return home after Coolum evacuation

UPDATE: Residents in Queensland's Sunshine Coast have been allowed to return home almost six hours after being evacuated due to a raging bushfire.

Police had evacuated residents in Coolum with an emergency situation declared on Friday afternoon.

Officers door-knocked homes on Arcoona and Leichhardt Roads, after already evacuating residents from Carnarvon Court, Cania Place and Musgrave Drive.

Source: Mike Turgoose

Source: Samara Lovell

Staff at a nearby school, who were working ahead of the upcoming 2017 school year, were also evacuated.

Late on Friday night, police confirmed residents could return home but warned there was heavy smoke and small spot fires still in the area.

"Emergency services remain in the area to monitor the situation and urge locals and motorists to remain vigilant and drive with care," a police spokesperson said.

Police re-declared an emergency situation just before 1pm on Friday, hours after the fire prompted the evacuation of Coolum Aqua Park.

Source: Jenelle Knight

A second water bomber was called in to help douse the blaze, which came close to residential areas late on Thursday.

The bushfire, which has burnt through hundreds of hectares, broke out at Coolum Beach, temporarily forcing the closure of the Sunshine Coast Motorway.

Thirty fire crews contained the blaze. Source: 7 News