Queensland bushfires set to get WORSE as a heatwave sends temperatures soaring to 40C 

There is no end in sight to the bushfire crisis in Queensland, with severe heatwave conditions forecast to spread across the state.

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as firefighters battle up to 140 wildfires during the unprecedented six-day emergency.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said crews have been confronted with high temperatures and ‘unimaginable’ conditions.

‘(But) due to all the proactive work conducted over the last several days, we have lost a minimal amount of houses, thankfully,’ she said on Thursday.

There is no end in sight to the bushfire crisis in Queensland, with severe heatwave conditions forecast to spread across the state

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as firefighters battle up to 140 wildfires during the unprecedented six-day emergency

Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as firefighters battle up to 140 wildfires during the unprecedented six-day emergency

Two houses, two cabins and 15 sheds have been destroyed, with a further 14 homes damaged, since the crisis began on Saturday.

‘This number could have easily been greater,’ she said.

Ms Carroll says the extreme temperatures have also caused 15 firefighters to suffer from heat stress, with more hot days forecast.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged residents to remain indoors and said the crisis would continue for days.  

Two houses, two cabins and 15 sheds have been destroyed, with a further 14 homes damaged

Two houses, two cabins and 15 sheds have been destroyed, with a further 14 homes damaged

‘There’s going to be a lot of fire around Queensland today – a lot of smoke. So can I please ask residents if they are concerned, to stay inside,’ she told Channel Nine.

‘If you don’t need to be outside, don’t. Because this smoke could have effect, especially on asthmatics and our elderly. 

‘So please take care today. But another big day. We’re not out of this. It’s going to go on for four more days.’

Three blazes of significance continued to burn late on Thursday at Tinnanbar, south of Hervey Bay, Deepwater and North Stradbroke Island.

The small isolated community of Tinnanbar was cut off by bushfire and told to seek shelter as fire bombers and more than 20 fire crews fought the blaze.

Six other towns were ordered to pack up their valuables and evacuate as fires continue to rage in central Queensland.

In the state’s south, a blaze on the eastern side of North Stradbroke Island threatened campers and powerlines.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a severe heatwave that began in the state’s north to move south in coming days.

‘Around Capricornia, up around MacKay and inland, it’ll be very hot again, so we’re talking temperatures getting well up into the mid to high 30s for a lot of places, maybe even touching 40 in the odd spot,’ meteorologist Rick Threlfall told AAP. 

Three blazes of significance continued to burn late on Thursday at Tinnanbar, south of Hervey Bay, Deepwater and North Stradbroke Island

Three blazes of significance continued to burn late on Thursday at Tinnanbar, south of Hervey Bay, Deepwater and North Stradbroke Island

Nearly 10,000 people were told to flee immediately as more than 100 fast-moving blazes tore through Queensland on Wednesday

Nearly 10,000 people were told to flee immediately as more than 100 fast-moving blazes tore through Queensland on Wednesday

‘The hot conditions will persist over the weekend and continue in the fire areas, and in fact spread to many other parts of the state.’ 

Thousands of people were evacuated from communities in central Queensland after catastrophic fire conditions on Wednesday.

Early on Thursday, residents of two more communities – Campwin Beach and Sarina Beach south of Mackay – were woken by police and emergency text messages telling them they were in danger and to move to safety immediately.

About 140 bushfires were burning across an almost 2,000km stretch from Yungaburra, south of Cairns, to Mount French, west of the Gold Coast.

QFES Assistant Commissioner Gary McCormack warned anyone who had not yet left on Wednesday to evacuate immediately

QFES Assistant Commissioner Gary McCormack warned anyone who had not yet left on Wednesday to evacuate immediately

About 140 bushfires burned across an almost 2,000km stretch from Yungaburra, south of Cairns, to Mount French, west of the Gold Coast

About 140 bushfires burned across an almost 2,000km stretch from Yungaburra, south of Cairns, to Mount French, west of the Gold Coast

QFES Assistant Commissioner Gary McCormack warned anyone who had not yet left to evacuate immediately.

‘Leaving their home is the safest option, for them and their families. They need to take advice as given,’ he told the Nine Network on Thursday. 

Reports emerged on Thursday morning of looting in at least one community.  

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said homes and lives were under threat, with firefighters struggling to have any effect on the blaze.

A firefighter is seen feeding water to a dehydrated puppy on Queensland on Wednesday 

A firefighter is seen feeding water to a dehydrated puppy on Queensland on Wednesday 

Thousands of people were evacuated from communities in central Queensland after catastrophic fire conditions on Wednesday.

Thousands of people were evacuated from communities in central Queensland after catastrophic fire conditions on Wednesday.

Roughly 8,000 people were ordered out of Gracemere, near Rockhampton, on Wednesday, with hundreds of them spending the night in an evacuation centre at the Rockhampton showgrounds.

Thick, billowing smoke surrounded the town, as the blaze edged closer to homes and shopping precincts in the region.

‘People will burn to death,’ Queensland’s deputy police commissioner Bob Gee warned on Wednesday. 

Rhonda Anderson evacuates herself and her horse to safety near Mount Larcom, Queensland

Rhonda Anderson evacuates herself and her horse to safety near Mount Larcom, Queensland

‘Their normal approaches probably won’t work if this situation develops the way it is predicted to develop. 

‘It is no different to a Category 5 cyclone coming through your door.’

‘If you have children with you, you need to think really hard about not losing a house, but losing the people you care most about.’ 

Dangerous conditions prevailed again on Thursday.

But they didn’t rival what was seen on Wednesday, when Queensland’s fire danger rating reached catastrophic for the first time in the state’s history.

There are currently 140 fires burning across the state, but favourable conditions overnight allowed firefighters to make some progress 

There are currently 140 fires burning across the state, but favourable conditions overnight allowed firefighters to make some progress 

Firefighters have been brought in from interstate to deal with the crisis, which is far from over with hot conditions expected to continue for days 

Firefighters have been brought in from interstate to deal with the crisis, which is far from over with hot conditions expected to continue for days 

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