Queenslanders have been told to remain prepared for bushfire threats as severe conditions continue to fuel blazes which have destroyed more than a dozen homes.

Almost 70 fires raged across the state yesterday, leading to evacuation orders for the border community of Applethorpe and "prepare to leave" warnings for nearby Stanthorpe and in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services say 11 homes have been lost in Sarabah and Binna Burra, as well as three in the Southern Downs region and one in the far north.

Queensland remains in the grips of a bushfire emergency with more than 60 fires raging across the state. (PR IMAGE)

Most of the state is rated a "very high" fire danger due to gusty winds and dry conditions, which are expected to continue today.

Stanthorpe is bracing for windy conditions overnight before gusts from the late morning, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Authorities' biggest concerns last night were around Stanthorpe and Applethorpe in the Southern Downs region, west of the Gold Coast.

In both of those rural towns, flames have been seen leaping as high as trees, forcing hundreds of local residents to evacuate with pets and children.

"We will not have this fire under control before Monday," QFES assistant commissioner Megan Stiffler told a community meeting in Stanthorpe.

In total, 17 homes have so far been lost to the fires and that number could rise as the flames continue to grow. (PR IMAGE)

"We have days ahead of us and lots of hard work through the night to secure all edges of this fire."

Winds both along the coast and inland are expected to ease back from Tuesday.

"This is where they raised their children, their grandchildren, so we have a number of families at the moment that are actually going through some really traumatic times," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said yesterday.

The land surrounding the two townships remains charred from the blazes and firefighters continue to face the threat of possible flare-ups, with wind gusts of up to 90km/h fanning the flames.

The ongoing threat also saw Queensland Fire and Emergency Services authorities urge employers to allow volunteer firefighters off work to assist.

Authorities' biggest concerns tonight are the areas around Applethorpe and Stanthorpe in the Southern Downs region, west of the Gold Coast. (9News)

In both of those rural towns, flames have been seen leaping as high as trees - forcing hundreds of local residents to evacuate with pets and children. (9News)

"If you are an employer of a rural firefighter, right now is where we need your assistance," a spokesperson said yesterday.

"If they need to go over the next three to four days, please let them go."

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services also issued emergency warnings for Binna Burra, The Summit, Thulimbah, Cottonvale and Dalveen advising locals to watch and act.

The fires come amid the worst drought in living memory experienced by residents in the Darling Downs region, with Stanthorpe expected to run out of water entirely by Christmas.

Meanwhile, at Canungra on the Gold Coast bushfires also continue to burn last night and many families from the Hinterland region have sought refuge at the Canungra Showgrounds.

The fires come amid the worst drought in living memory experienced by residents in the Darling Downs region, with Stanthorpe expected to run out of water entirely by Christmas. (9News)

"This is a tragedy unfolding," Greg Christensen, the Scenic Rim Mayor, said yesterday.

"Thank you to my community, you've shown firstly great courage, but secondly great compassion."

Across the state, no lives have been lost as a result of the bushfires however there have been close calls - with one family needing to be rescued by helicopter from Tabletop Road in the Hinterland after their house was destroyed.

In Riverview, a separate bushfire has also been brought under control yesterday afternoon by firefighters who plan to backburn the area in the hope of reducing flare-ups.

The weather forecast for Queensland over the coming days also looks dire for firefighters, with zero chance of rain for the entire state predicted for tomorrow. (9News)

That blaze continued to rage yesterday for several hours, fanned by intense winds that brought the flames - at times - within 200 metres of residential properties.

The State Government yesterday renewed its health warning to residents in areas affected by fires, urging people to seek shelter from the smoke being blown across Queensland.

"I am concerned about people's health. If you are asthmatic, if you do not need to go outside - don't go outside, because there is a lot of dust and everything that is being picked up right across the south-east," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Across the Hinterland, 11 homes in total have been destroyed with 10 succumbing to flames last night alone. (9News)

The weather forecast for Queensland over the coming days also looks dire for firefighters, with zero chance of rain for the entire state predicted for today.

The high-speed winds are also not expected to die down until at least Tuesday, meaning the bushfires may continue to burn through the weekend.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has assured fire-ravaged Queensland communities they'll get the support to fight the bushfires and recover from the devastation.

Mr Morrison assured the communities yesterday they would get all the support they needed to deal with the fires, and in the recovery that takes place afterwards.

"Particularly there at Binna Burra and Stanthorpe, I think there are going to be some challenges there and we'll be there to work with the state government to get it done," he told ABC Southern Queensland.

NSW bushfire emergency

Queensland is not the only state battling an emergency, with 65 blazes still burning in NSW last night, in the earliest start to the busiest season the state has ever seen.

The town of Tenterfield, in the state's north, is facing the worst of the conditions with homes and businesses yesterday lost to the flames.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian voiced her concern about the emergency, saying it is a sign of what may come before the end of the year.

"Fires in September and the severity of these fires tell us what a horrific bushfire season we're going to have in upcoming months," she told reporters.

On the frontline, 66-year-old volunteer firefighter Neville Smith was rushed to a Brisbane hospital after falling critically ill in the line of duty.

His hands, arm, legs, back, face and airways were burned Friday while he and a colleague fought the Mount Mackenzie Road fire, which has burned more than 3500 hectares south of the Tenterfield township.

He had been attempting to save the property of local resident Brown Petrie when flames engulfed his truck.

"The wind has gusted up and swirled around and gone over them, and that's how Neville got injured," Ms Petrie told 9News.

Mr Smith was stabilised at Tenterfield Hospital before being flown to Brisbane, where he remains in a critical-but-stable condition.