Conditions have eased for firefighters battling Queensland's bushfires but it's no time to be complacent, with the fire danger expected to increase in coming days.
About 50 fires continue to burn in "tinderbox" conditions across the state, with Gold Coast hinterland residents on alert as firefighters monitor blazes burning in inaccessible hills near Canungra.
Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford. Source: AAP
While moist southeasterly winds have cooled the area, the fire danger remains high ahead of deteriorating conditions next week, the Bureau of Meteorology
says.
"It's going to be very warm through southern Queensland on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday," meteorologist Sam Campbell told AAP on Saturday.
"Unfortunately, hot dry weather is set to continue."
Lisa Groom and her son Luke Beyer stand in the wreckage of a shed on their property on Binna Burra Road, Beechmont where ten homes were lost to the fires. Source: AAP
The 10-day emergency has seen firefighters battle blazes over an estimated 55,000 hectares of land with crews from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand lending a hand.
Officials have warned some fires could burn for months because the ground is bone-dry and there is no significant rain in sight.
Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen, whose region in the Gold Coast hinterland has been battling fires for more than a week, said Saturday is being spent preparing for more difficult conditions.
"While there's a lot of smoke still in the valley, causing uncertainty, the fire fronts in close proximity south of Canungra are inside containment lines."
Local firefighters, who had Friday off after being relieved by interstate colleagues, will resume their work over the weekend, he said.
Rural firefighters recouperate at Peregian Springs, Queensland. Source: AAP
Fires continue to burn in the Lamington National Park, near Binna Burra, in Sarabah and Lower Beechmont.
The Ballandean blaze, south of Stanthorpe, continues to burn within containment lines and there is currently no threat to property.
For the latest updates and current alert levels please visit the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website.
