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Bushfire bears down on north Qld town

A bushfire near Herberton, in north Queensland, is bearing down on the small town of Irvinebank, with residents warned to leave now.

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Source: AAP


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Residents of the small north Queensland town of Irvinebank have been told to leave their homes immediately as a bushfire burning for two weeks heads towards the community.

The large and fast-moving blaze in the vicinity of Whites Track is travelling in a westerly direction towards Irvinebank, authorities advised as of 6.40pm.

A community assembly point at the Herberton Community Centre will be open until midnight.

The fire, which started on September 17, burned a home and sheds in nearby Walsh River on Sunday afternoon, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said on Monday.

"Conditions are now very dangerous and firefighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire advancing," a QFES spokesman said in a statement.

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Meanwhile, a group of hikers is recovering after they were rescued from a fire in the Blackdown Tableland National Park - 150km west of Rockhampton - on Sunday.

Eight people were walked out of bushland near Rainbow Falls, while another person was helped out of the area after walking into a ranger's hut.

Firefighters said another four people refused assistance.

Queensland ambulance say they treated 11 people, including three children, for minor smoke inhalation.


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