Firefighters protect 100 homes in Qld

Firefighters have saved more than 100 homes on Rockhampton's northern outskirts from
raging bushfires, however authorities are warning nearby householders to remain
vigilant.
Exhausted fire officers and support staff on Tuesday were replaced by 67
counterparts from NSW - the largest bushfire relief contingent of its kind to be
sent from NSW to Queensland.
Conditions eased on Tuesday afternoon, but Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
Assistant Commissioner Neil Gallant said fires continued to burn on Mount Archer
near homes in the suburbs of Norman Gardens and Frenchville.
A Department of Community Safety (DCS) spokeswoman said firebreaks in the
Frenchville area had prevented the fire impacting on homes.
"However residents in these areas are urged to remain vigilant in case conditions
change," she said.
She said fire crews in the area were now working to save three houses from a small
outbreak of fire on Barkers Road at Nerimbah.
More than 100 firefighters battled fires across Norman Gardens on Tuesday morning.
The fire reached the suburb shortly after 9am (AEST) and came within metres of
homes, flames licking at fences.
However, the 43 fire crews battling the blaze prevented significant property damage
through backburning and the use of aerial water-bombers.
"At this point in time no homes have been lost. There has been some damage to
fences, we haven't been able to prevent that," Mr Gallant said.
Mr Gallant said the fire season, which has seen fire crews in central Queensland
battle blazes for 24 days straight, was the worst he'd experienced in his 26 years
as a firefighter.
He said the fires would continue to burn until the region experienced some rain, but
the outlook from the weather bureau wasn't good.
Norman Gardens residents were full of praise for the QFRS efforts.
"Yeah, they did a good job. It was the best they could have done," resident Mark
Schneider told AAP.
Meanwhile, the federal government has vowed to provide bushfire-ravaged communities
in Queensland with "all the support they need".
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard told federal parliament on Tuesday the
commonwealth would provide disaster assistance to communities affected by the fires.
"Currently, there are a total of 36 fire incidents in Queensland with over 310
personnel involved," Ms Gillard said.
"The commonwealth ... will continue to work closely with Queensland authorities,
local government and community organisations to ensure affected communities have all
the support they need during this difficult period."
Federal funds would flow to the Queensland government through natural disaster
relief and recovery arrangements, she said.
Up to 250 fire officers are fighting around 30 other blazes across the state.
About 30 officers, including some from NSW, are battling a fire at Gaeta, west of
Bundaberg, and 32 emergency services personnel are fighting a blaze on Kalpowar
Road, Gaeta.
The Gaeta fire has burnt 30,000 hectares since it started five days ago.
"Fire crews are working to contain the fire across six sectors using a grader and
bulldozer to construct containment lines and local landmarks as fire breaks," the
DCS spokeswoman said.