Qld bushfires, Stanthorpe, Fraser Island, Mary Valley in firing line

Fire crews are being kept busy in several hot zones across Queensland, while Fraser Island’s biggest resort has closed.

Thirty fire trucks and six planes have been tasked to a bushfire southwest of Stanthorpe, as several parts of Queensland remain in the grip of blazes.

Conditions are expected to worsen in the region in the coming days, with firefighters trying to contain the blaze before wind conditions pick up this afternoon.

As conditions eased overnight at Numdubbemere, near Stanthorpe, firefighters are bracing for a change in weather on Monday afternoon.

Firefighters on the ground near Stanthorpe

“Our biggest problem is the wind later on today,” one firefighter on the frontline told The Courier-Mail.

The bushfire is burning several kilometres southwest from the scene of the region’s worst bushfire in 60 years, last September.

It comes as Fraser Island’s biggest holiday resort closes and assists guests to leave as major bushfires continue to move towards the property.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the fire has now burned roughly 40 per cent of the island, with 76,000ha scorched since last month.

Firefighting aircraft in the Stanthorpe area.

At 8:45am this morning the major bushfire front was sitting about 4km northeast of Kingfisher Bay Resort, with a second front on the eastern side of the island sitting about 2km south of Cathedrals on Fraser. By 1.30pm the front was about 3km northwest of Kingfisher Bay, while the second front on the eastern side of the island was about 3km south of Cathedrals on Fraser and travelling in a southerly direction towards Eli Creek.

Fraser Island’s biggest holiday resort will today be closing its doors and have asked guests to leave as major bushfires continue to move towards the property.

QFES also advised this afternoon of a new front that was sitting approximately 4km to the west-northwest of Happy Valley and travelling in a southerly direction.

A QAS spokesperson confirmed that paramedics crews remained on the island to assist firefighters, including bringing in additional appliances into their Happy Valley operations centre to assist.

The temperature was about 30C at 10.30am, though it was predicted to get worse, hitting a top of 32C.

West northwesterly winds about 13km/h were giving a small burst of aid to fire crews, but were set to change direction to north northeasterly gusts in the early evening.

Queensland Rural Fire Service crews as well as a waterbird were fighting a bushfire at Mount Jukes near Seaforth in the Mackay region. Picture: Kevin Petith

The rising temperatures come after a letter obtained by the ABC, reportedly sent out to remaining hotel guests yesterday, revealed Kingfisher Bay management would close the resort from 10.30am today until December 14.

While the letter assured guests today’s action wasn’t the start of an evacuation, it stated that additional ferry services would be activated to ensure people are able to leave the resort safely.

“Rest assured that this is not an evacuation, and our team will work closely with guests, to assist with all travel amendments,” the letter said.

Kingfisher Bay will today be closing its doors and will be assisting guests to leave as major bushfires continue to move towards the property. Photo: Supplied

“These preparations include having firefighting units based at the resort to ensure that any event is dealt with quickly and effectively.”

The hotel has also taken to its website and social media to confirm the closure, going on to say it will be contacting guests impacted by the actions.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services vision of fires burning on Fraser Island Picture Supplied

The closure comes as QFES Superintendent James Haig told ABC Breakfast this morning that the multi-front fire has to this date burned 40 per cent of the island.

“Just on Saturday alone we dropped 250,000 litres on the island, that's not even counting the trucks.” Superintendent Haig said.

While weather conditions appear to be on firefighter’s side today, with north-easterly winds set to push some of the fires back, Superintendent Haig remained adamant no real change would occur until a heavy rain falls on the region.

“All I want for Christmas is rain – we’re working with the conditions we’ve got,” he said this morning.

The fire burning near Cathedral's on Fraser Island.

In the Mary Valley near Gympie, firefighters were monitoring a bushfire at Tuchekoi following a late-night battle.

Sixteen firefighting crews were needed to keep the blaze in check after it flared up near Ironside Rd just before 9pm on Sunday.

A QFES spokeswoman said the blaze’s width reached about 100m at one point, with flames 0.5m high.

Smoke was still visible from the scene this morning.

Crews managed to bring it under control about 11.30pm and three crews are still at the scene to ensure it did not flare back up, with two more on the way.

And nine firefighting crews and a firebird helicopter crew were battling a bushfire at Mount Jukes in the Mackay region.

The blaze was south of Gormleys Rd and west of Yakapari-Seaforth Rd.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesman said crews were called to the fire about 10.30am.

He said responders were made up of urban units from the Mackay and North Mackay fire stations, as well as rural crews from areas including Habana and Ballbay.

A Firebird 417 had been called to help douse the fire.

The fire was posing no threat to property at this time, but smoke may affect nearby residents.

Additional reporting Scott Kovacevic, Melanie Whiting & Heidi Petith