Queensland is facing its first major test of the bushfire season as extreme heat and strong winds fuel a fast-moving fire on Fraser Island.
The blaze which was sparked by a campfire nearly seven weeks ago intensified over the past 48 hours under heatwave conditions.
More than 74,000 hectares have been scorched and the fire-front is now only five kilometres from the Kingfisher Bay community of 700 residents.
Crews are hoping a southwesterly wind change will push the blaze east of the bay, but visitors could be banned from visiting Fraser Island until the end of the week.
Close to the Queensland-New South Wales border a bushfire has been downgraded to ‘advice’ warning level near Stanthorpe.
Total fire bans are in place across several districts in Queensland's north and south-east.
