Australia Weather News

Four homes have been lost in a bushfire that has been burning for 10 days in the Pechey area on Queensland's Darling Downs, authorities say.

The Pechey blaze has burnt nearly 20,000 hectares so far.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) incident controller John Welke said crews carried out further damage assessments in the Ravensbourne area and confirmed the homes, a rural building, and several sheds had been destroyed.

Mr Welke said the fire front was now more than 100 kilometres long.

"I must stress that the number of saved properties throughout the significant landscape fire far outweighs those lost," Mr Welke said.

More than 130 firefighters, 47 trucks and five aircraft are continuing work to contain the fire that began last week.

"We are far from calling this fire contained, as there is in excess of 100 kilometres of fire line that we need to ensure we have containment over the coming days," Mr Welke said.

Mr Welke said the area remained dangerous after a fire truck was damaged by a falling tree while on the Esk-Hampton Road on Wednesday night, with the crew treated for shock.

The area will remain closed to non-essential personnel until damaged trees were accessed and removed.

The Cunningham Highway is also blocked by tree debris from the bushfires at Cunninghams Gap.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads said before the highway could be reopened, crews would need to ensure the slopes were stable, signs repaired and fallen trees removed.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire.

Milder conditions across the region have allowed crews to strengthen containment lines around the fire.

"Thankfully Mother Nature has actually given us a small reprieve and allowed fire personnel to work I guess more aggressively on that area," Mr Welke said.

Warnings for residents in the Ravensbourne area were downgraded to advice on Thursday.

The Crows Nest State School has reopened after being closed for two days due to the bushfire threat.

Authorities are also planning the return of nursing home residents back to the Churches of Christ Care aged care service in Crows Nest.

Emergency declaration wound back

QFES said on Wednesday night the State of Fire Emergency Declaration imposed on 42 local government areas had been partially wound back as fire conditions eased.

Acting Commissioner Mike Wassing said the declaration would be lifted from 36 of the 42 local government areas.

Mr Wassing said the areas where the declarations still applied were: Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Toowoomba and the Southern Downs.

"Significant blazes continue to burn in these areas and the bushfire risk remains high, which is why the declaration will continue until further notice.," he said.

However, Mr Wassing said residents in the 36 local government areas where the declaration had been lifted might still be under local fire bans.

"Local fire bans have been reintroduced in many local government areas that were covered by the declaration," he said

"Residents should speak with their local fire wardens and visit the Rural Fire Service website to determine what restrictions are in place."