Residents in the Deepwater region near Agnes Water in central Queensland were told to “seek shelter immediately” during the early hours of Wednesday as a fire was heading toward Muller Road and Pacific Drive in Baffle Creek.

People should not attempt to leave and instead take shelter inside a brick building, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said.

A subsequent alert downgraded the emergency warning to a Watch and Act and said firefighters were working to contain the fire but that it was “not safe to return” yet to the area.

Emergency authorities said the other significant blaze crews were battling was located at Gracemere near Rockhampton.

Crews are backburning and dampening down a few hot spots after a shed caught fire there as well.

Almost 60 fires overall were being monitored by QFES on Tuesday night.

A blaze at Wutul and East Cooyar, north of Toowoomba, had prompted warnings from authorities but locals have since returned to their residences.

Extreme fire danger warnings are still current for areas in the Central West, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Daytime temperatures in the mid-30s were recorded on Tuesday with 25-40km/h southeasterly winds.

Winton and Longreach reached 36C and Barcaldine hit 35C, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The wind and fires led to a smoke warning for the Greater Brisbane region, with conditions expected to persist until at least Wednesday.

“Smoke is impacting the region due to fires burning in the southeast corner and further west,” QFES posted on Facebook late on Tuesday.

“These smoky conditions are expected to persist until at least tomorrow so if you have a respiratory condition please shut doors and windows and keep medications close by.”