As of 4.20am on Tuesday, the fast-moving bushfire was travelling north-northeast from Emu Mountain Road towards Peregian Beach and Peregian Breeze Estate. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services say leaving immediately was the safest option. "The fire is expected to have a significant impact on the community," QFES said. Peregian Beach residents have been told to evacuate towards Noosa while those in Peregian Breeze Estate are advised to head for Noosa or Noosaville. Evacuation centres have opened at the Cooroy Library, the Noosa Leisure Centre at Noosaville, the Multi Sport Centre at Maroochydore and the Nambour Showgrounds.

Residents of Weyba, Weyba Downs, Peregian Springs, Castaways Beach and Marcus Beach have been told to be ready to leave the area. "There is two kilometres spotting of this fire and we have a significant amount of houses that have been breached by fire," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services north coast chief superintendent Michelle Young told ABC. On Monday, the Sunshine Motorway near Peregian Springs on the Sunshine Coast was closed in both directions because of the fast-moving bushfire. "Fire crews are working to contain the fire but firefighters may not be able to protect every property," the QFES said on Monday night. Meanwhile, Ballandean residents were warned to evacuate on Monday afternoon, with others taking to social media to describe the bushfire crisis as a "nightmare" that that won't end.

Ballandean is south of the towns of Stanthorpe and Applethorpe, where a fire that forced evacuations over the weekend has been contained. Queensland has been gripped by a bushfire crisis in recent days. Credit:Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade That blaze is not threatening any homes but strong, dry winds are still making conditions volatile in the bone-dry countryside. "We are confident we will be able to hold that, and if there are any outbreaks we will be able to get onto those very quickly," acting Fire Commissioner Mike Wassing said. An exclusion zone remains due to dangerous conditions near where at least eight structures including three homes were destroyed.

But some residents are starting to return to check the extent of the damage. Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford warned on Monday that the emergency was far from over. "I think we are through the worst of it, but we still have a couple of days to go before it really starts to cool down," he said. There were more than 80 fires burning at one point on Monday and there are fire bans across most of the tinder-dry state. Loading

The Gold Coast hinterland rainforest fire that has destroyed 11 homes was still causing pain. Winds grounded aircraft for periods on Monday as emergency crews urged people to immediately leave O'Reilly. Not everyone got out, with around 100 police, guests and staff were sheltering at O'Reilly's Guest House, at Canungra, on Monday night. Locals forced to flee their homes to escape the Sarabah and Binna Burra infernos were allowed back to assess the damage in the blackened landscape. They were forewarned about the destruction they could face after the Sarabah blaze burnt through 3600 hectares.

Other property owners were told they can check on their pets and collect medication. The RSPCA has sent a vet to the Gold Coast to assess injured livestock, and the community is arranging fodder drops. Some 20 properties have been destroyed and another 27 have been damaged since the bushfire crisis began on Thursday, including the historic Binna Burra Lodge. The ruins of the lodge, one of the oldest nature-based resorts in Australia, are surrounded by blackened remnants of what used to be lush rainforest in the Lamington National Park Fires are also burning north of Rockhampton, near Gympie and one west of Toowoomba, but no homes are under threat in those areas.

The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the situation a "catastrophe", ensuring victims' claims will be given priority. The federal and state governments have promised assistance to those affected by the fires, including replenishing already dangerously low water supplies used to fight fires around Stanthorpe. Meanwhile, police have warned anyone caught deliberately lighting fires face life imprisonment. The warning came after a man was caught allegedly back-burning in extremely dangerous conditions near Rockhampton on Sunday, and the fire spread. That same day some children lit a blaze at Pimpama on the Gold Coast. It was extinguished before it could cause any damage , police say.

AAP