The Fraser Coast Mayor has praised the bravery of fire fighters who've been battling a raging inferno on Fraser Island since October.
Councillor George Seymour said the town of Happy Valley, where residents were advised to "leave immediately" on Monday, would have been destroyed if it wasn't for the crews' hardship and heroism.
"Yesterday from midday to about 4pm was an extraordinary day," he said.
"It was day of bravery, courage, heroism and a well prepared community — a small group of people united in a common cause saved that township.
"There is no question without their preparation, without their tenacity without their presence, that township would have be a smouldering ruin this morning.
"It would have burnt to the ground before the rain arrived last night."
About 50 residents and property owners also remained at the township to help battle the blaze.
Mayor Seymour said the 26 millimetres that fell around midnight was enough to slow down the fire.
But he said a predicted change in wind direction later today could threaten Kingfisher Bay Resort again.
"The changing wind is what has pushed that fire back and forth from coast to coast down the island, to where it has burned through almost half of this World Heritage-listed island.
"82,000 hectares of precious and rare plant and rainforest environment is burnt; it is tragic to see what has been lost."
Mayor's 'blood boils' over fire cause
The Mayor said it "made his blood boil" to think this blaze started from an illegal camp fire on a remote part of the island three months ago.
"It has gone on to cause this massive destruction, and destroyed so many lives," he said.
"Kingfisher Bay Resort remains evacuated and so many people's holiday plans have been ruined."
There is no indication when the island will reopen.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) state coordinator Brian Cox said the fire front was now around 400 metres north of a settlement named The Oaks.
"We are … trying to get the air tankers up again," he said.
"We'll continue to fight this fire as it moves slowly southwards."
Mr Cox said it was still an unpredictable situation.
"This is a unique environment … it doesn't take much with those tinder-dry conditions, even with the rainfall we had last night, with a lightning strike or a flare-up again, to reignite that environment," Mr Cox said.
BOM senior forecaster Jonty Hall said conditions could get "tricky" for firefighters on the ground.
"It's potentially a tricky day again for them, with a trough system that is going to introduce these milder conditions coming through those areas affected by fires," he said.
"So that will produce some generally fairly erratic winds and possibly a sharp wind change.
"Conditions will improve from Wednesday onwards, with generally less humid and cooler conditions, and south-easterly winds blowing, so there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of those fire dangers through that area."
Firefighters say another 75 millimetres of rain is needed to bring the fires under control.
