One person lost their life in the Tara fire which forced hundreds to flee and destroyed 58 homes – nine more than in the Black Summer disaster of 2019.

Some 26,000 hectares were burned in total, but firefighters managed to save 387 homes.

While the threat appears to be over in Tara, residents have a long road to recovery, says Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh.

“The recovery will be a slow and hard one,” McVeigh said.

“It is probably going to take a couple of years, quite easily.”

Some 25 caravans will arrive in the town on Friday to house some of the families whose homes were incinerated.

Accommodation is also to be constructed, with an old caravan park and the Tara showgrounds to be redeveloped.

There are 60 more fires still raging across the state, with 83 Victorian firefighters joining the fight on Thursday. Another 27 are expected from New Zealand soon.

People west of Cairns were told to leave after large fires threatened Jumna Dam and Innot Hot Springs, with reports two houses were destroyed.

At 2am on Friday, residents who had fled the fire at Jumna Dam were advised not to return.

“If you left the area, stay where you are. It is not safe to return,” Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said.

“Prepare to leave” warnings were issued for residents at the Southern Downs border town of Wyberba and Carnarvon Gorge in the central highlands.

A high fire danger rating will remain in north Queensland with no rain forecast, and will also affect the northwest, central west and Channel Country in the coming days.

Fires have forced road closures throughout the state with an emergency declaration area announced near the far north town of Innot Hot Springs.

Federal and state government financial assistance is available, with the latter pledging $1 million toward a bushfire appeal.