Homes destroyed, residents told to leave as crews battle Queensland bushfires

A heat wave will re-intensify across much of Queensland on Wednesday, giving crews a narrow window to defeat a huge blaze that's forced hundreds of evacuations.

A bushfire in central Queensland threatening homes in Deepwater and Baffle Creek.

A bushfire in central Queensland threatening homes in Deepwater and Baffle Creek. Source: AAP

Emergency services fear at least four homes have been destroyed as huge bushfires burn in central Queensland.

Firefighters surveyed the damage on Tuesday afternoon, as waterboming aircraft hit some of the worst fire zones.

Firefighters spent the night battling to save dozens of homes in as a heat wave sweeps the state.

Crews are battling to get the upper hand as a huge fire continues to threaten communities halfway between Bundaberg and Gladstone.

Hundreds of people have been ordered to leave their homes at Deepwater, Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek.

A hundred firefighters from NSW have arrived to reinforce exhausted Queensland crews.
A hundred firefighters from NSW have arrived to reinforce exhausted Queensland crews. Source: AAP

It's understood properties on Pacific Drive, Deepwater, have been lost.

Residents of Round Hill, north of the national park, have also been told to prepare to flee.

High temperatures and erratic winds over the past few days have pushed the fire across 17,000 hectares, destroying two homes and partially consuming a third along with rural property including sheds and caravans.

Fire authorities say conditions will remain difficult on Tuesday, but weather forecasters say they won't be as bad as previous days.

However severe heat wave conditions are expected on the fire ground from Wednesday, giving firefighters only a narrow window to get the upper hand.

The situation will be even worse in the north.

Extreme heat wave conditions are expected there from Wednesday and would make it easy for any fires that start to get away.

Fire chief Katarina Carroll will be asking for more support from interstate, beyond the 100 NSW firefighters who've already arrived to fight the central Queensland bushfire.

"We don't have respite for a number of days - very hot, and very dry, and very difficult conditions for us," she told the ABC on Tuesday.

"Because the heat wave is across most of the state, I can't afford to release resources from other parts of the state."

Crews fighting the central Queensland blaze worked throughout the night to put in containment lines, and defend homes.

NSW firefighters who will relieve exhausted local crews also arrived on Tuesday afternoon, bolstering firefighting efforts.


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