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AAP
AAP
Callum Godde

Eighty Queensland fires active, evacuations ordered

A bushfire continues to burn near the town of Tara, where one person was killed and 32 homes lost. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

The risk to lives and properties posed by widespread Queensland bushfires has mostly eased, with warnings downgraded and some residents told they can return home.

However more than 80 blazes were still active across the state on Sunday afternoon, with five watch and act alerts in play.

An emergency declaration was issued late Sunday afternoon as flames threatened the Sunshine Coast towns of Landsborough and Beerwah.

"A large, fast-moving fire is burning near White Gums Street and Wintzloff Road. It is expected to impact Hardwood Road, Landsborough within the next hour," the QFES said.

People were urged to leave immediately.

Police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act on Saturday night as the blaze broke containment lines.

Everyone in the area was advised to evacuate immediately before the declaration was revoked about three hours later as properties were no longer deemed under threat.

Firefighters are seen in the town of Tara, Queensland
Numerous watch and act warnings remain around Tara with some residents told to prepare to flee.

A blaze continues to burn at Tara, where one person was killed and 32 homes lost in several Western Downs fires.

Multiple watch and act warnings remain in place for at-risk residents, with some told to prepare to leave if they haven't already.

Others to the east of the warning area have been told they can now return with caution.

"The fire near Ravens Road is now burning in containment lines," an alert said.

Warnings for bushfires at Farleigh near Mackay, Chinchilla and Miles, Ellesmere near Brooklands, Tinaroo near Mareeba have been cancelled as condition ease.

Residents are being told to avoid smoke in Mundubbera, Gayndah, Coalstoun Lakes, Biggenden and surrounding areas.

The same advice has been issued for people near fires at Lakeland near Cooktown, Mutchilba near Mareeba, Durong near Kingaroy and Fernvale.

The downgraded warnings come after a man was airlifted to hospital on Saturday afternoon after suffering burns to his upper body and face while trying to contain a fire in the North Burnett region.

The man in his 50s is believed to have been using a grader to help clear a fire break on a neighbour's property when the flames came too close.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the country's fire season had hit early and hard.

Murray Watt (file)
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says there still some tough days ahead for Queensland.

"Right now, around Australia, there are a number of active fires in place, particularly in Queensland, the Northern Territory and NSW," he said.

"I also just want to remind Queenslanders we do continue to face some pretty difficult fire conditions in the next few days. So please pay attention to the warnings."

The minister was speaking in Adelaide, where he was announcing the creation of the National Emergency Management Stockpile, which will include things like emergency housing, water, food purification equipment and technology needed in disasters.

"What we see when disasters hit, is that states and territories often have to scramble around to borrow equipment, housing, those sorts of things in addition to what they have themselves to meet community needs," he said.

"Making sure people have got a roof over their heads immediately after a disaster is a really important step towards recovery."

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