Residents have fled to a beach as a bushfire threatens homes in two small communities in north Queensland.
Before dawn on Thursday, police told residents of Campwin Beach and Sarina Beach, south of Mackay, that they must leave their homes because their lives were under threat.
It's believed everyone is safe with no homes lost so far, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Gary McCormack has told the Seven Network.
"We have got people evacuated onto the beach there," he said.
"Crews are working across multiple fire fronts at the moment, protecting structures. The news at the moment is no structures have been lost, and no persons injured."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expressed elation on Thursday at fire fighters having saved the town of Gracemere near Rockhampton.
"We have saved Gracemere. This is fantastic news," she told Seven, saying 8000 people who fled the blaze were now allowed to go home.
No homes are believed to have been lost there.
More than 100 fires continue to burn across the state but favourable conditions overnight allowed firefighters to make some progress on one major fire at Gracemere, near Rockhampton.
Authorities hope to get into Mount Larcom, inland from Gladstone, on Thursday, fearing homes may have been lost there.
"We believe that we have had some structural loss, but we can't confirm the amount," Mr McCormack said.
He said there was damage to an agricultural building at a high school in the area, and the fire cut traffic on the Bruce Highway, amid fears burnt trees could fall onto cars.
Dangerous bushfire conditions are expected again on Thursday but authorities hope they won't rival what was seen on Wednesday when the state's fire danger rating reached "catastrophic" for the first time in its history.
The Bureau of Meteorology says winds won't reach the speeds seen on Wednesday, but hot and very dry conditions mean the fire danger remains very high.
Authorities say the primary area of concern stretches from central Queensland north to Townsville.
.@NSWRFS heading north of the border 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/NWhpf6vd6m — Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 28, 2018
Authorities still don't know exactly how many homes have been lost since the crisis began last weekend.
But some were lost in the first major blaze, around Deepwater National Park, halfway between Bundaberg and Gladstone, and at Finch Hatton, west of Mackay.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged federal help for Queenslanders affected by the fires and begged people to heed evacuation orders.
"You can rebuild a home, but you can't rebuild a family," he said.
More than 40 schools in central Queensland remained closed on Thursday.
Rhonda Anderson evacuates herself and her horse to safety near Mount Larcom, Queensland, Wednesday, November 28, 2018. Source: AAP
