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.
Firefighters have spent the night battling to save dozens of homes in central Queensland 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.
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.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said two homes had been lost so far, with a third partially destroyed along with other rural assets.
She’s urged people near the fire to follow orders and get out and stay out until the situation is safe.
The NSW firefighters who will relieve exhausted local crews should be on the fire ground by about noon on Tuesday.
A huge water-bombing plane that can dump 15,000 litres at a time on the fire front has also been working on the fire, alongside seven other aircraft.
