DAY 8: Girraween fire continues to burn

UPDATE 7.30pm: 

THE New England Highway has been closed in both directions between Brushabers Rd and Tarban Rd, Jennings due to the bushfires in the area. 

Vehicles are parked on the highway as no diversions are in place. Road users are urged to avoid the area. 

Currently the bushfire is burning within containment lines in Girraween National Park.

QFES and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service crews will remain on scene to monitor the fire overnight.

Currently the fire is 43260ha in size. 

UPDATE 3.40pm: 

FIREFIGHTERS continue to strengthen the containment lines and monitor the blaze in Girraween National Park. 

QFES have reported a large amount of smoke from the fire which is affecting areas between the New South Wales border and Stanthorpe. 

Motorists are advised to drive with caution and to conditions as traffic restrictions may be in place in the area. 

Most of the fire activity has been on the south western side of the fire near Sunnyside, on the north western side of the fire in the Girraween National Park, north of Wallangarra and on the south eastern side near the Bruxner Highway.

Currently no properties are under threat. 

The fire has burned through 43872ha of land. 

UPDATE 12.45pm: 

LOCAL firefighting crews have been given a chance to rest as strike teams enter the region to help fight the Wallangarra fire. 

Public Information Officer for the Wallangarra Fire Katie Mann said there were fire crews helping out from Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and all across the Darling Downs regions. 

"We're just managing fatigue of the local crews," she said. 

"Some of the local crews that have been here for the last few weeks have been given a chance to rest for a few days."

Currently 65 firefighters are on the ground at Girraween mopping up and strengthening containment lines. 

"The heat is probably the main concern but we're confident with the containment lines we have around it and we should be able to tighten them tonight."

Earlier

WATERBOMBERS will help firefighters tackle the Girraween fire today after another sleepless night.

A QFES spokesman said crews worked overnight to monitor the blaze.

"Crews conducted major backburning operations in the Beehive sector and Fletchers lane areas," he said.

"The fire is still burning within the national park."

Today firefighters will continue to monitor the fire throughout the day. The fire is currently headed in a north-westerly direction.

Currently no properties are under threat however there is a large amount of smoke affecting the area between the New South Wales border and Ballandean.

Across the border the fire continues to burn west of the Bruxner Highway in Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo area.

The fire has burned 43822ha of land.