A emergency situation has been declared for a community north of Bundaberg with residents urged to evacuate as a large, unpredictable bushfire moves towards inhabited areas.
The fire in Deepwater National Park is now moving both to the north and the south, with residents in the suburb of Deepwater to the south urged to either enact their bushfire plans or evacuate.
Police have set up an emergency declaration area around almost the entire community, for the area within Deepwater Drive and Deepwater Road, Deepwater Road and Matchbox Road intersections including Matchbox Road and Capricornia Drive, Capricornia Drive and Seabreeze Road.
Fire authorities said the blaze had started to "impact the community" just before 3pm Sunday, and urged anyone who had already evacuated not to return to their homes until the all clear was given.
An evacuation centre had been set up at nearby Miriam Vale, with police assisting with evacuations from the community.
Meanwhile residents to the north of the national park around the suburb of Round Hill have had their advice upgraded again on Sunday afternoon to Prepare To Leave.
At 2.30pm the unpredictable fire was moving north-northeasterly towards homes, with firefighters warning they would not be able to protect individual houses.
Earlier, a fire south of Brisbane near Undullah was downgraded to an alert level.
In Sheldon south of Brisbane, a large grassfire that on Saturday destroyed a shed and two caravans was still burning within containment lines on Sunday.
Sheldon residents were warned to expect a smoke haze throughout the day and to close windows and doors.
Hot westerly winds, high temperatures and low humidity are making most of the state like a tinderbox, fire authorities said.
Residents in rural areas have been urged to take the usual precautions, including avoiding using machinery and power tools if possible, and to call triple-0 immediately if they spot a fire.
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