Queensland house lost to fire as long-term drought, dry winter creates tinderbox

Regional Queensland residents are on edge with catastrophic bushfire conditions forecast for areas hit so hard by drought that dams on many properties are dry.

Smoke haze from local bushfires obscures the skyline on the beach at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on Thursday. Source: AAP

A fast-moving blaze had destroyed a house in Far North Queensland as firefighters in the state's south brace for dire fire conditions.

Water-bombing aircraft are on standby with severe to extreme fire warnings issued for southern, southeast and central Queensland on Friday.

Authorities have warned conditions could reach the highest catastrophic rating in some parts inland areas in the state's south.

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