A Queensland mayor has hit out against those debating whether climate change is to blame for horrific bushfires this week.

Key points: A regional Queensland mayor wants governments to stop "point scoring" about climate change and do something about it

A regional Queensland mayor wants governments to stop "point scoring" about climate change and do something about it The state's Emergency Services Minister says fires appear to be "the new norm", with two intense fire seasons in a row

The state's Emergency Services Minister says fires appear to be "the new norm", with two intense fire seasons in a row The Minister promises to revamp the Rural Fire Service through fleet design, tactics, operations, leadership, and training

Livingstone Shire Mayor Bill Ludwig, who covers the Yeppoon region where 13 houses have been lost and farmland has been heavily impacted, said whatever the cause of the change, it was undoubtedly happening.

"You're seeing more events, they're more unpredictable, they're coming with levels of intensity that nobody has seen before," he said.

"We need to accept that there is a change happening in our weather patterns.

"Let's apply common sense and let's get the Federal Government working with the State Government.

"Stop arguing about climate change and address the variable conditions we're seeing every year now."

A firefighter tries to extinguish a bushfire near Yeppoon on Saturday night. ( Facebook: Clint Swadling )

Cr Ludwig, who is not a member of any political party, said he wanted to see less "point scoring" from both sides of politics and more action.

"We really need to put mitigation measures in place that will help us deal with [fires]," he said.

"Whether it's climate variability or climate change it's here, and we need to deal with it."

Bushfires 'the new norm'

Queensland's Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said Queensland had faced two intense fire seasons in a row.

In November last year, the state faced 'catastrophic' fire conditions for the first time.

"This appears to be the new norm for Queensland," Mr Crawford said.

"Queensland has not traditionally been a bushfire state in any comparison to New South Wales and Victoria.

"But if you look at the last two seasons, we have been very much up there with them, we have been dealing with the same kind of numbers, intensity, and the same kind of conditions.

"We are going to have to re-look at the way we do rural operations across the state."

Firefighters carried out backburning near Yeppoon to prevent a larger flare-up. ( ABC News )

New leadership coming

Mr Crawford said the first job of the department's incoming commissioner, Greg Leach, will be to implement changes to the state's Rural Fire Service in light of increasing bushfire emergencies.

Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade acting chief officer, Greg Leach, will soon step into his new role as Queensland's Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner. ( Supplied: Metropolitan Fire Brigade )

Mr Leach is currently serving as the deputy chief officer of the Melbourne Fire Brigade and had a long history with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria.

He will begin his new role as Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner in the next few weeks.

Mr Crawford said he wanted Mr Leach to use his vast experience managing Victoria's infamous bushfires to evaluate the volunteer-based Rural Fire Service.

Like Cr Ludwig, he said short, medium and long-term changes will be required.