Queensland fire crisis extends to state's south

Around 5,030 hectares have been burnt through as more than 100 fires burn in central Queensland.

A view of the impact of fires on central Queensland.

A view of the impact of fires on central Queensland. Source: RACQ CQ

Queensland's severe heatwave has spread south as the state's bushfire crisis enters its second week and firefighters gear up for another day of volatile fire conditions.

More than 100 fires continue to burn across the state with temperatures forecast to soar over 40Cs in many inland districts on Sunday.

Bushfires at Deepwater and Eungella in central Queensland, as well as at Carnarvon in the southwest and on North Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane, remain the most concerning.



The Bureau of Meteorology says increased wind conditions combined with the hot and dry conditions has pushed the fire rating back to severe.

"This exceptional heat and fire event just keeps continuing, the records are just too numerous to mention," meteorologist Bruce Gunn said.

"There is still some days to go until we some relief ... there is no significant rain on the horizon especially in central Queensland before Tuesday."

Forecast thunderstorms for Sunday won't produce rain but are expected to start more fires due to "dry lightning", Mr Gunn said.

It comes as a tropical low off the state's northeast coast with a chance of becoming a cyclone heads southwest towards Cairns, Mr Gunn said.



QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll says "concerning" days lay ahead for Queensland.

"We're not out of the woods ... it is a moving feast, the change of the winds present those challenges and the heatwave, and when you put all of this together it is a difficult concoction to deal with," she said.

More than 400 interstate firefighters are battling the bushfires with the help of 20 aircraft.

The bushfire crisis saw its first loss of life on Friday night, with the death of a 21-year-old man at Rolleston, south of Emerald.

He was using a chainsaw to cut down a tree for a firebreak when the tree fell on him.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world