Slightly milder conditions on Wednesday and on Boxing Day will give the state's Country Fire Service some chance of bringing the 25,000-hectare blaze to heel ahead of hot weather forecast for the weekend.
A watch and act warning remains in place for the region, where fires have destroyed 84 homes and hundreds of other buildings as well as claiming one life.
The Hollands Creek Road and Cudlee Creek fires remain uncontrolled, the latest update from the CFS states, with nearby residents urged to leave if they are able to.
"There are hot spots within the fire ground and although the forward rate of spread has halted should an outbreak occur it is likely to burn in a northerly direction," the warning says.
"Localised gully winds may also cause flare-ups and may have an effect on the direction of travel. Conditions are continually changing."
A return to very hot weather has been forecast for the weekend, with temperatures set to top 40C together with rising winds.
CFS Chief Officer Mark Jones said he was inspired by the efforts of his volunteers as work continues to bring the fire under control.
"You selflessly give your time, time away from your family, and you endure financial losses to put yourself in harm's way to protect the community," he said.
Mr Jones said about 200 firefighters would remain on the ground in the Hills on Wednesday, and those at home would be ready to spring into action.
"Fires don't discriminate whether it's Christmas Day or not and our firefighters don't discriminate either," he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured areas hit hard by the fires on Tuesday, visiting the Lobethal emergency relief centre, a CFS brigade at Woodside and a local winery which lost its 10-hectare vineyard.
He said in almost every case, those devastated by the fire had worked incredibly hard to build up what was there.
"They're very determined people and my encouragement to them today is to access the help that is available," he said.
"No one is invincible. No one can carry all of this on their own."
Mr Morrison also paid tribute the firefighters on duty across the Hills and those battling other fires around SA and across the country.
"Today may be Christmas Eve but for so many firefighters, it's going to be another day out there protecting their communities," he said.
Fires continue to burn in Queensland
With more than 40 bushfires burning across Queensland, it's business as usual on Christmas Day for firefighters across the state.
But that doesn't mean they'll miss out on the festivities.
Firefighters at the Woodridge station will lead a convoy of emergency vehicles and workers on 15km "Santa Run" through the suburbs of Logan, south of Brisbane.
They'll be joined by members of the Rural Fire Service, police and emergency workers as the parade of vehicles spreads "some Christmas joy".
"We'll have the lights and sirens on with Jingle Bells playing so they know we're coming," organiser and fireman Scott Edwards told AAP.
The convoy will stop off at a community lunch before heading to Logan Hospital to help Father Christmas hand out gifts in the children's ward.
"All we've been seeing on the news is terrible things happening with all the fires, so this is a little something to give back to the community," Mr Edwards said.
"It's about the Christmas Spirit and saying g'day - if we make just one kid smile we'll have done our job."
Hundreds of career firefighters on duty across Queensland are joined by Rural Fire Service volunteers, many of whom continue to fight bushfires burning from northern Queensland to the NSW border.
In Brisbane, Fire and Rescue Service firefighter Sam Carrigg says his team at the Roma Street station plan to share a traditional Christmas lunch, as long as they're not called out to an emergency.
"There's no rest for the wicked, as they say, but hopefully we get time," he said with a laugh.
"With the 12 of us on shift, it's like a big extended family, like having all your cousins around."
Ham and turkey with all the trimmings, plus Mr Carrigg's brother's special rum balls, are on the menu.
"We should have a nice waft through the station," he joked.
"But we can't eat too much just in case we get called out."
Despite being a city station, Mr Carrigg says his team has also had a busy season fighting bushfires.
"All of Queensland has been flat biscuit," he said.
Mr Carrigg tipped his hat to the rural firefighters across Australia.
"We're paid to do our job but most of the rural teams volunteer to protect their communities," he said.
"It's just outstanding what they do."
