Australia Weather News

Queensland firefighters responded to more than 100 incidents across the state, including a bushfire between Enoggera Reservoir and Camp Mountain, about 20 kilometres north of Brisbane.

On Friday, the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) issued a Not Safe to Return notice for residents near a slow-moving bushfire, with a Watch and Act warning covering Mount Nebo Road, Betts Road and Camp Mountain Road. That alert has since been downgraded to a Stay Informed notice.

Police also revoked an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA).

More than 20 crews were on site with three water-bombing aircraft in support.

Speaking to 612 ABC Radio Brisbane just after 5.30pm on Friday, QFD Assistant Commissioner Matt Bulow said he had concerns for the next few days.

"There's been significant progress … but it's still not over yet. In that area, there's a lot of hot spots," he said.

"We're going to have crews in and around that area, not just all night tonight but for the next couple of days."

The fire began earlier in the week and was able to jump containment lines due to high temperatures, wind and low humidity.

Fire bans persist across the state

The Bureau of Meteorology issued high fire danger ratings for most Queensland districts on Friday.

A total fire ban is in place in 23 local government areas between Central Queensland and the Gold Coast.

In Queensland's north, almost 100 people have been evacuated from campsites in Cape Palmerston National Park, about an hour south of Mackay on Friday.

Aerial firefighters have attacked the blaze, which has been burning since Thursday morning.

Police and state rangers advised campers to leave the site, tracking them through the state's National Park booking system.

Billy O'Grady, Principal Ranger for the Central West, said everyone had been accounted for.

Cape Palmerston will be closed for up to a week, while fire bans are in place in national parks near Sarina and Mackay until October 7.

"We do have some drier, windier conditions persisting over the weekend in the next week," Mr O'Grady said.

Due to a wind change, police have advised residents and campers around Cape Palmerston to "stay clear" of the area until further notice.

The Queensland Fire Department said no properties had been impacted, and a bulldozer was brought in to strengthen containment lines.

Smoke has affected parts of Mackay and surrounding communities, with authorities advising people to close windows.

Meanwhile, hot conditions are pushing towards the state's north with Townsville recording its hottest October day in 67 years on Friday.

The north Queensland coastal city hit 36.4 degrees Celsius mid-morning on Friday, the hottest October day since 1958 when the mercury peaked at 37.1C.

It is Townsville's second-hottest October day on record.

Elsewhere, the heat has eased in central and southern Queensland after record-breaking temperatures on Thursday.

Rockhampton recorded its hottest October day since 2019, reaching 39C.

The same record was broken in Biloela, where the temperature soared to just shy of 38C.

Heat relief, sunny skies

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said there would be a reprieve in the hot October temperatures this weekend.

"We're expecting sunny days ahead across the state, but a little bit of relief in the temperatures," BOM meteorologist Jordi Cairol said.

"Temperatures in most of the state are going a few degrees lower than we have had in the past few days.

"The cool change will arrive north of Townsville a little bit later, maybe tomorrow.".

The end of the week has been comparatively mild in the west of the state, with temperatures in the low 30s.

Sunny conditions are predicted for the public holiday on Monday, with the chance of showers in the North Tropical Coast between Cairns and Townsville.

"We have a break for the next couple of days, but next week temperatures will start to increase again," Mr Cairol said.