Residents warned it was too late to escape fire

Bush fires are raging in the states of Queensland and New South Wales in extremely high temperatures. In New South Wales up to 20 homes and buildings have been destroyed in the village of Rappville, and emergency services are continuing to fight out of control bushfires in Bubsys Flat and Drake. In Laidley in Queensland's Lockyer Valley at least one home has been destroyed, and residents have been told to be prepared to leave the area in Carneys Creek and near the Glen Rock state forest. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services state coordinator James Haig said yesterday was very challenging.