Cyclone could form as Queensland fires set to burn through weekend

Heatwave conditions are expected to linger into next week as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warns there is up to a 50 per cent chance a tropical cyclone could form off the Queensland coast at the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of the potential for a tropical low near the Solomon Islands to move into the northern Coral Sea and intensify into a cyclone during the next five days.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said officers caught two men after brief foot chases, following a tip-off from members of the public about the alleged arson attacks.

"Now, both of these incidents, the offenders were arrested very, very quickly, due to the public coming forward," he said.

"I've got to stress the point that neither of these incidences are related to the Stanwell fire [about 20 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton].

"Yesterday afternoon we arrested a 26-year-old man for an offence where he attempted to create a fire in Rockhampton.

"Just recently, another male, a 27-year-old, has been taken into custody for a similar type of offence at Port Curtis [closer to town]."

Both fires were extinguished quickly and only a small area of grassland was burnt.

The 27-year-old man was assisting with police inquiries. The 26-year-old was charged with endangering property by fire and due to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on December 17.

Authorities continued to monitor and fight a number of dangerous bushfires across Queensland as Ms Palaszczuk warned the emergency was far from over.

"We are still monitoring a number of fires across the state. Tinnanbar, the fire at Deepwater, Stanwell, and Straddie," she said.

Firefighters from other parts of the state were expected to relieve crews who had been working under "incredible conditions".

On Friday afternoon, an alert to evacuate immediately remained in place for Dalrymple Heights, Deepwater, Baffle Creek, Rules Beach and Oyster Creek residents.

Dalrymple Heights locals should head to the Community Hall on North Street.

Residents in the remaining evacuation areas were told to flee along Flat Rock Road to Rocky Point Park where they would be ferried across by boat and taken to Miriam Vale Community Centre.

Locals in Ellerbeck, The Caves, Broken River, Captain Creek, Dalrymple Heights and Winfield should prepare to evacuate, according to the fire service.

Those affected by the bushfires at Carruchan, Undullah, Warrami, Rungoo, Walkamin, Delaneys Creek, Kowari Gorge, Carmila, North Stradbroke Island, Tinnanbar, Gracemere, Mount Larcom, Mutchilba and Kabra should watch for updates from emergency services.

QFES commissioner Katarina Carroll said there were 114 fires burning across the state on Friday, with 70 in central Queensland.

"The heatwave conditions continue and particularly in the next few days, there will be extraordinarily dry conditions. So, we are seeing fires igniting constantly," she said.

On Friday, the bushfire at Tinnanbar, 160 kilometres south of Bundaberg, had been contained, crews were winning the battle against the fire around Gracemere, near Rockhampton, and a strong force of firefighters continued to fight the blaze at Deepwater, 100 kilometres north of Bundaberg.

A cluster of fires west of Mackay near Fitch Hatton, Dalrymple and Eungalla were proving to be a challenge for crews on the ground but they were in a strong position.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster David Grant said the heatwave was expected to continue in central and northern Queensland before spreading across the state.

"Into next week, we may see temperatures climb eight to 10 degrees above the November average through parts of south-east Queensland as well," he said.

"There is also going to be the risk of thunderstorm activity around the south-east corner of the state, with some potential for damaging gusts.

"Take care on the ground and with the potential of risk of the heat conditions forming around the south-east, but also the risk of any thunderstorm activity as well."

A central Queensland bushfire that forced hundreds of residents to flee was defeated overnight, with firefighters now focusing on getting on top of three other dangerous fires as easier conditions greet weary crews.

Fire crews pulled out of Campwin Beach, 40 kilometres south of Mackay, victorious on Friday morning, in stark contrast to a warning issued on Thursday that gave locals just 30 minutes to evacuate as the "severe, fast-moving" flames closed in.

A QFES spokeswoman said there had been no fresh warnings or fires overnight and firefighters' focus remained on getting the upper hand over the bushfires near Gracemere, Deepwater and Tinnanbar.

Fire crews managed to save the community of Tinnanbar on Thursday and hoped to strengthen their position on Friday.

A local fire ban will remain in place until Sunday for residents in the Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Noosa Shire, North Burnett, South Burnett and Cherbourg local government areas.

Three early learning centres were closed: Beechmont State School P&C; Association Outside School Hours Care, Platypus Kindy and Tieri Daycare Centre.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had seen the fatigue in firefighters' eyes when she visited the town of Kabra, near Rockhampton, on Thursday.

She added there were still several tough days ahead and urged residents to listen to the radio, watch the TV and keep an eye on their mobile phones for warning messages.

- with Felicity Caldwell, Lydia Lynch, Jocelyn Garcia, AAP