Queensland Corrective Services can confirm it evacuated Numinbah Correctional Centre, a low security women's farm in the Gold Coast hinterland, yesterday due to the effects of nearby bushfires.
The evacuation allows authorities responsible for managing the fires to focus on community safety.
While the centre is not directly affected by fires, it is in an area which is heavily smoke-affected, and local road closures and other issues made staff and prisoner safety a concern.
The decision was made to pre-emptively evacuate the 101 prisoners and most of the staff on shift to an approved Community Service Project site which had suitable facilities to ensure security and safety overnight.
The women will be transferred to Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre this morning.
The evacuation will be until the conditions improve and authorities have brought the situation under control.
QCS undertook the evacuation using its own vehicles and staff.
The farm's livestock has been moved to a safe area of the property with access to feed and water, and the Defence Community Dogs being trained at the centre have been evacuated with their prisoner handlers. A small number of staff remain at the centre.
Prisoner's families will be kept informed during the process.
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