A change in weather has helped firefighters control a blaze near a Fraser Island resort, after it was sparked from the remnants of a controlled burn-off.
Ground crews and water-bombing aircraft fought the fire that started on Sunday evening and came within 800m of Kingfisher Bay Resort, causing the resort to move about 50 staff and guests out of its 500 occupants.
It was one of 44 blazes battled by several hundred firefighters yesterday, who benefited from a drop in winds and rain that began to move northwards from the southeast.
The number of fires was a significant drop from the 424 burning from the Atherton Tablelands to southern parts of the state at the weekend.
Fire Commissioner Lee Johnson said the Fraser Island blaze was expected to be fully extinguished today. It was believed to have been ignited after embers from a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service control burn from last week sparked up again. "From time to time, hazard reduction burns do get out of control. What happens is the wind changes."
