North Stradbroke Island fire could burn for weeks THE fire that has engulfed more than half of North Stradbroke Island could burn for weeks and firefighters are banking on favourable weather to contain it after more people were evacuated on Tuesday. Winds of up to 55km/h fanned the flames of the large, fast-moving bushfire as it headed toward the township of Myora Springs, about 4km north of Dunwich, on Tuesday afternoon. Between eight and 10 people were asked to leave their homes and residents were advised to enact bushfire plans as the fire threatened to escape containment lines. "It had potential (yesterday) afternoon because we had such strong winds," Queensland Fire and Emergency Service superintendent Jeff King told The Courier-Mail. Aerial pictures of North Stradbroke Island fire. Photo by Angie Simms. We just had to do some fairly significant work to ensure that didn't occur. Water bombers were called in to help attack the fire from the sky and will return this morning. More than 100 firefighters have helped battle the blaze, which has burned about 12,000ha, affecting more than 60 per cent of the island. The fire itself will continue to burn and smoulder for probably several weeks. But well within containment lines," he said. There will be a significant presence with crews and aircraft (on Wednesday). All being well we will scale back from the weekend. Mr King said the evacuations had been "precautionary" and the fire was under control and burning within containment lines last night. "There were three homes that could potentially have been under threat but no property was under direct threat (yesterday)," he said. Local councillor Craig Ogilvie said the community was "breathing a sigh of relief." As you can imagine everyone is extremely relieved. I think people woke up (yesterday) morning after the rain and thought (yesterday) was going to be about slapping firefighters on the back for helping us out," he said. But as it turns out it was another day of concern and stress in our community. QFES Commissioner Lee Johnson praised the "outstanding response" of agencies to the fire which has burnt since December 29. But he urged locals and visitors to remain vigilant. While this fire is now burning within containment lines it is still an active fire and locals and residents should still be mindful of the ongoing response.