Firefighters in central Queensland will be faced with an enemy of an entirely different kind as hail, heavy rain and damaging wind threaten parts of the state.
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Storms are circling some of the worst affected fire areas around Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Maryborough on Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesman from Ergon energy said more than 8000 people around Rockhampton had lost power due to the storms.
A further 16,800 people are also in the dark, just north of Rockhampton in Livingstone Shire.
Strong winds, heavy rain and hail could also impact Fraser Island, Blackwater and Mount Morgan.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said there were at least five fires underneath storms on Tuesday afternoon.
Fire crews are crossing their fingers that rain helps to douse the most persistent bushfires that have savaged three million hectares of land in the past week.
“These dangerous fire conditions will ease up, but that is not to say people should not be remaining vigilant,” a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said.
“Fire conditions could start to ease over next few days, but there is smoke haze over parts of south-east and central Queensland still.”
