People refuse to leave homes as fires rage

BRISBANE: Some residents are refusing to leave homes in the direct path of an inferno that has razed thousands of hectares of land in central Queensland.

Hundreds of local and NSW firefighters are battling the blaze, which has burnt through 20,000ha of bush and farming property and destroyed up to four homes since Saturday.

Police have been banging on doors in Baffle Creek, Deepwater, Oyster Creek and Rules Beach, where Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett says some locals have dismissed advice to get out.

‘‘When you have a police officer knock at your door saying a fire is coming, it is time to get out; it’s serious,’’ Mr Burnett said yesterday.

The fire is heading towards Coast Road, the only exit to the Hills Road bridge that crosses Baffle Creek to Euleilah.

Mr Burnett said the road would soon be blocked and all signs showed it would not be safe for people to return to their homes until the weekend.

The warning comes as firefighters brace for what forecasters are describing as ‘‘catastrophic’’ conditions today, with the mercury to hit 40degC and winds up to 40kmh.

A large blaze is also threatening Finch Hatton in central Queensland.

The fastmoving fire west of Mackay was travelling southwest toward Eungella National Park yesterday afternoon.

Residents of nearby Dalrymple Heights have also been told to evacuate.

Police are helping with evacuations. — AAP