About 50 fires continue to burn across Queensland with firefighting conditions forecast to deteriorate in coming days as hot and dry weather sets in.

September 14, 2019

Conditions have eased for firefighters battling Queensland’s bushfires but it’s no time to be complacent, with the fire danger set 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. 

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.”

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.

About 1200 bushfires have burned across the state, with more than 600 community warnings issued in the past two weeks.

Authorities have activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance giving people directly affected by fires up to 13 weeks of support payments equivalent to the maximum rate of the Newstart Allowance.

On Saturday, that was extended to primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations impacted by the fires.

Loans of up to $250,000 and subsidies of up to $5000 are available for the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water, and building materials.

Officials have warned some fires could burn for months in the bone-dry conditions, with 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 gave crews an opportunity to prepare for the difficult conditions ahead.

“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,” he said.

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.