Queensland fires: state will ‘continue to burn’ without rain, as dozens of bushfires flare up

Rural firefighters’ chief says state in ‘survival mode’ amid dry weather, with 53 homes destroyed in the Western DownsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastQueensland is in “survival mode” as dozens of bushfires burn across the state and there is no rain on the horizon, the head of the volunteer firefighters association has said.Firefighters have contained a bushfire at Tara, on the Western Downs four hours west of Brisbane, that destroyed 53 homes and claimed two lives. But fires have flared up to the north and south, with emergency warnings in place on Wednesday for a fire between Warwick and Stanthorpe on the Southern Downs.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup