A group of hikers has been rescued by emergency services and escorted out of bushland threatened by fire in central Queensland.

Eight people were walked out of bushland in the Blackdown Tableland national park – 150km west of Rockhampton – on Sunday afternoon, according to firefighters.

Another person was helped out of the area after walking into a ranger’s hut, while another four people refused assistance.

Queensland Ambulance Service said they treated 11 people, including three children, for minor smoke inhalation.

A rescue helicopter was earlier dispatched to the area, but later stood down after the group were rescued on the ground.

Hiker Nicole Galea was caught up in the fire with her family earlier in the day but was able to run from the area.

“What started out as an awesome day with our BFFs enjoying a hike in the beautiful Queensland Blackdown Tablelands ended in us running for our lives after a fire started about one kilometre into our hike to Rainbow Falls,” she said on Facebook.

The fire grew quickly in the dry conditions, she said.

“[We were] running with kids screaming ... fire, heat at our backs, deafening sounds and roar of the fire,” she said.

Galea said it was one of the scariest experiences of her life and she was praying for the people who had already walked to the falls earlier in the day.

“Heart still racing, got to the cars, warned all who we passed and got the f*** out of there,” she said.

The fire broke out early on Sunday around Charlevue Road at Dingo.

Meanwhile, a fire near Herberton in far north Queensland was downgraded from a “watch and act” to an “advice” level.

The fire was moving in a north-westerly direction along the Walsh River, according to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, on Sunday afternoon.

People in the area would be affected by smoke, which would reduce visibility and air quality, they warned.