Residents who almost lost their homes in the Gold Coast hinterland bushfires have expressed anger over reports the blaze may have started during army live firing exercises at neighbouring Kokoda Barracks.

Key points: A senior ADF officer from Kokoda Barracks said "it is entirely possible" a small fire started during exercises reignited and led to a dangerous fire at the weekend

A senior ADF officer from Kokoda Barracks said "it is entirely possible" a small fire started during exercises reignited and led to a dangerous fire at the weekend Some residents are appalled the army was engaging in live ammunition training in the weeks leading up to the blaze

Some residents are appalled the army was engaging in live ammunition training in the weeks leading up to the blaze One resident, who lost a shed and a car in the blaze, asked the ADF to redo a fire break in September "but they said they were too busy"

In a statement to the ABC, an Australian Defence Force (ADF) spokesperson said "it would be inappropriate to comment on the cause of the fire at this time".

But in a Facebook message on the Lower Beechmont Rural Fire Brigade page a few days earlier, Colonel Arran Hassell from the Kokoda Barracks conceded the ADF may have been responsible for the fire in the area.

"We have not formally investigated the cause of the fire, but I am conscious that we had an Army unit conducting training in the east of the training area the week when the fire started," he said.

"As a part of their training a small fire was started, burnt out an area of 3m by 3m, but we believed we had extinguished it.

"It is entirely possible that this fire reignited on Sunday 27 Oct and has led to the current fire."

Emergency Services evacuated 50 homes in Lower Beechmont after fire came within metres of properties. ( Supplied: Queensland Ambulance Service )

Lower Beechmont resident Kirsty Mitchell, who was evacuated from her home on Saturday, said while she was incredibly grateful for the work firefighters did in saving her property, she was appalled the army had engaged in live ammunition training in the weeks leading up to Saturday's blaze.

"We're disgusted," she said.

"If you look at the terrain, they have a phenomenal amount of land. Why they'd choose to do training in a place close to houses with no fire breaks is beyond belief.

The fire came within metres of Kirsty and Rob Mitchell's home in Lower Beechmont on Saturday. ( ABC Gold Coast: Gemma Sapwell )

"I'd be questioning what were the operational needs for that particular training, at that moment in time, when your neighbours are on such high alert," she said.

"This is after Binna Burra [burned down]."

Kirsty's husband Rob Mitchell said Defence personnel from the Kokoda Barracks came to address residents in the evacuation centre on Saturday.

"I think they're pretty much admitting they've made some mistakes and they've mentioned reviews and things they could have done better," he said.

"It'll be interesting what will come out of their own reviews and see what they can learn from that.

"But quite honestly, with the fires we had a couple of months ago, to actually do live firing exercises close to houses — that's the critical mistake right there."

In its statement, the ADF acknowledged the fire risk of their operations, saying:

"Defence acknowledges that the use of live ammunition, lasers, vehicles, plant and machinery, as well as aircraft operations and other training activities required to achieve operational preparedness pose a fire risk."

The ADF said it was working with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) to manage the fire currently burning on the Kokoda Barracks Field Training Area.

"Defence is providing access to Kokoda Barracks for QFES to allow for refuelling of aircraft assisting with the bushfire fighting efforts," it said.

Claims communication lacking, censored

Resident Victoria Edmonds, who runs Rainbow Bridge Family Day Care in Lower Beechmont, said locals heard live firing exercises the day before the fire started.

"Someone needs to answer for this," she said.

"Anywhere in the country where Defence land backs onto residential properties there needs to be something in place, and communication."

Ms Mitchell said there was also unease in the community after Defence personnel asked a local community Facebook page to remove all posts referring to the ADF's role in the fire.

"To be absolutely censored, with no communication … it really freaked everyone out. I think they have a lot to answer for."

However, some residents were keen to stress they accepted the inherent risks that come with buying a home close to the barracks which were built in 1942.

Resident Nita Ford, who lost a shed which belonged to her recently deceased husband, and a car in the fire said she did not blame the army.

"In September I did ask them to do the fire break again — which they did years ago — but they said they were too busy," she said.

Ben and his mother Nita Ford lost the shed on the family property in Lower Beechmont. ( ABC Gold Coast: Tom Forbes )

"You can't really put the blame on anyone. Even though you have your moments."

Despite a slight reprieve in conditions on Monday, more than 50 fires continue to burn across Queensland, with local fire crews pushed to their limits and still preparing for the worst.