Australian authorities on Wednesday sent out alerts and evacuation notices to residents of towns and communities across the states of Victoria and New South Wales, with weather reports suggesting a further increase in temperatures, thereby increasing the risk of bushfires.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/natures-wrath-inferno-in-australia-272957">In pics: Nature's wrath — Inferno in Australia</a>

Australia has been experiencing its warmest summer, with temperatures soaring high enough to ensure the continued sustenance and expansion of the bushfires which started so many months ago.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-fires-show-no-sign-of-stopping-new-warnings-issued-by-authorities-273205/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville addressed a press conference, saying that that the fires are still moving, still growing and they further pose a significant risk to communities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-over-10000-camels-to-be-culled-in-a-bid-to-save-water-273033">Australia: Over 10,000 camels to be culled in a bid to save water</a>

According to sources, the Australian bushfires have rendered more than 10.3 million hectares of land in an utter state of destruction, with forest burnt down and structures reduced to mere rubble.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in another press conference earlier this week had warned that the fire may continue to burn for many more months to come.

PM Morrison also announced the dedication of $2 billion to the creation of a National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which will be used to coordinate national response to support families and society rebuild their communities and livelihoods affected by the inferno.

Australian authorities on Wednesday sent out alerts and evacuation notices to residents of towns and communities across the states of Victoria and New South Wales, with weather reports suggesting a further increase in temperatures, thereby increasing the risk of bushfires.

Australian authorities on Wednesday sent out alerts and evacuation notices to residents of towns and communities across the states of Victoria and New South Wales, with weather reports suggesting a further increase in temperatures, thereby increasing the risk of bushfires. In pics: Nature's wrath — Inferno in Australia Australia has been experiencing its warmest summer, with temperatures soaring high enough to ensure the continued sustenance and expansion of the bushfires which started so many months ago. Watch: Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville addressed a press conference, saying that that the fires are still moving, still growing and they further pose a significant risk to communities. Also read: Australia: Over 10,000 camels to be culled in a bid to save water According to sources, the Australian bushfires have rendered more than 10.3 million hectares of land in an utter state of destruction, with forest burnt down and structures reduced to mere rubble. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in another press conference earlier this week had warned that the fire may continue to burn for many more months to come. PM Morrison also announced the dedication of $2 billion to the creation of a National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which will be used to coordinate national response to support families and society rebuild their communities and livelihoods affected by the inferno.

Australia: New warnings issued by authorities with rekindled bushfire

Australia's bushfires catastrophe shows no sign of relief. The authorities have issued new warnings of evacuation notices amid fears of huge bushfires in the next few days. Watch report: #Australia #AustraliaBushfires #Bushfires

Australia fires show no sign of stopping, New warnings issued by authorities

Australia's&nbsp;weather&nbsp;agency&nbsp;sees&nbsp;no&nbsp;sign&nbsp;of&nbsp;cooler&nbsp;weather&nbsp;or&nbsp;significant&nbsp;rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt&nbsp;bushfires&nbsp;sweeping across the country.

Following&nbsp;Australia's hottest and driest year on record in 2019, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drought-hit-australia-recorded-third-warmest-year-last-year-189344">Bureau&nbsp;of Meteorology</a> said on Thursday temperatures were likely to remain higher than average over the next few months.

While there was some&nbsp;rainfall coming from the north it would not be enough to douse the&nbsp;bushfires&nbsp;raging in the country's southeast, the&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;said.

"While the&nbsp;rainfall will be welcome, we’re stopping short of saying that it’s going to be drought-breaking or really relieving the conditions we’ve seen," the&nbsp;Bureau&nbsp;of Meteorology’s Manager of Climate Monitoring, Karl Braganza, told reporters at a briefing on its annual climate statement.

Australia&nbsp;has been battling large&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lack-of-forecast-rains-to-prolong-australian-bushfires-threat-261992">bushfires</a>&nbsp;for months. A three-year drought that has left the countryside tinder-dry, which experts have linked to climate change, has helped fuel the crisis.

More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea has been razed since September, killing 26 people and killing or injuring an estimated one billion animals, including livestock.

More than 100 fires remain alight and authorities have said the largest of the blazes will only be doused by&nbsp;significant&nbsp;rainfall.

The&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;said climate change and natural drivers, including warmer than normal waters in the Indian Ocean off Africa, had made 2019&nbsp;Australia's hottest and driest year on record, with the highest ever forest fire danger rating.

The country had only 6 per cent&nbsp;of its typical annual&nbsp;rainfall last year, while daytime temperatures across were more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.

"These are large departures that we saw in 2019, both in terms of how different they were to the average temperatures and&nbsp;rainfall that we see, but also compared to previous records as well," Braganza said.

He said these were part of longer term trends in temperature and fire&nbsp;weather&nbsp;that the&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;has observed.&nbsp;Rainfall has been tracked since 1900 and temperatures since 1910.

"Australia's getting warmer, the fire season's getting longer and the severity of the fire&nbsp;weather&nbsp;during that season is getting more frequent and severe," Braganza said.

"When we look at the projections that we do for climate change, certainly&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;should be preparing for those trends to continue."

Australia's weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt bushfires sweeping across the country.

Australia's weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt bushfires sweeping across the country. Following Australia's hottest and driest year on record in 2019, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday temperatures were likely to remain higher than average over the next few months. While there was some rainfall coming from the north it would not be enough to douse the bushfires raging in the country's southeast, the bureau said. "While the rainfall will be welcome, we’re stopping short of saying that it’s going to be drought-breaking or really relieving the conditions we’ve seen," the Bureau of Meteorology’s Manager of Climate Monitoring, Karl Braganza, told reporters at a briefing on its annual climate statement. Australia has been battling large bushfires for months. A three-year drought that has left the countryside tinder-dry, which experts have linked to climate change, has helped fuel the crisis. More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea has been razed since September, killing 26 people and killing or injuring an estimated one billion animals, including livestock. More than 100 fires remain alight and authorities have said the largest of the blazes will only be doused by significant rainfall. The bureau said climate change and natural drivers, including warmer than normal waters in the Indian Ocean off Africa, had made 2019 Australia's hottest and driest year on record, with the highest ever forest fire danger rating. The country had only 6 per cent of its typical annual rainfall last year, while daytime temperatures across were more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. "These are large departures that we saw in 2019, both in terms of how different they were to the average temperatures and rainfall that we see, but also compared to previous records as well," Braganza said. He said these were part of longer term trends in temperature and fire weather that the bureau has observed. Rainfall has been tracked since 1900 and temperatures since 1910. "Australia's getting warmer, the fire season's getting longer and the severity of the fire weather during that season is getting more frequent and severe," Braganza said. "When we look at the projections that we do for climate change, certainly Australia should be preparing for those trends to continue."

Australia weather bureau sees no sign of cooler weather or rain to quell bushfires

The bushfires in Australia show no signs of abating. Satellite images taken on January 7 showed bushfires smoke drifting across Chile and Argentina, some 11,000 km away from Australia's east coast. #WION #Australia #AustraliaBushfires

Australian bushfires smoke travels through South America

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everythings-just-gone-weve-got-nothing-aish-australian-bushfire-victim-272566">Australia's months-long bushfire crisis</a>, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis.

The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter</a>

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction.

Scores of people have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-update-authorities-race-to-reopen-blocked-roads-evacuate-people-272450">rendered homeless</a>, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water.

Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing.

Watch:&nbsp;Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-bushfires-scott-morrison-announces-new-recovery-agency-272334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''.

"There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported.

High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">arsenal of bushfires</a>.

"They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported.

Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze". Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia. Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis. The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed. Also read: As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction. Scores of people have been rendered homeless, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water. Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing. Watch: Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''. "There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported. High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new arsenal of bushfires. "They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported. Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months. (With inputs from Reuters)

Australian 'mega-blaze': 2,000 homes destroyed; military buries 4,000 animals to prevent diseases

Temperatures in Australia have provided some much-needed respite to the Australian bushfires. Some dangerous fire conditions are now being forecasted for the end of the week. Cooling temperatures and calmer winds have now brought some relief to the Australian communities. #Australia #WION #Bushfires #AustraliaBushfires

Much needed respite from bushfires in Australia

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/djokovic-and-nadal-rally-for-merger-of-atp-cup-and-davis-cup-271915">Novak Djokovic</a> said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-2020-tennis-innovative-24-team-tournament-to-begin-from-january-3-271406">Grand Slam</a> of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health.

The opening major of 2020 is due to start at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuelled-by-high-temperatures-and-strong-winds-australian-bushfires-continues-rage-272114">Melbourne</a> Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality.

Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said in the early hours of Sunday that any delay would be a last resort, but it needed to be discussed.

"I mean, it's fair from you to say that (ask the question)," he said when pressed on the matter in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-kicks-off-with-shapovalov-win-271903">Brisbane</a>, where he is playing for Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup team event.

"Obviously, you have to always&nbsp;because of some extreme weather and conditions, you just have to consider it.

"But I think that's probably the very, very last option for anything. I think they're going to try to do anything to not delay in terms of days and when it starts.

"I mean, and I understand why, but if it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it."

Catastrophic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">bushfires</a> have been raging in Australia for weeks, leaving 24 dead and hundreds of properties destroyed.

Tennis officials last week took the unprecedented decision to relocate the Canberra International, an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-2020-tennis-innovative-24-team-tournament-to-begin-from-january-3-271406">ATP</a> Challenger 125 event and on the women's ITF World Tennis Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the full tour.

They said play would not have been possible in the Australian capital which has been choked by smoke, with the tournament now due to start Monday at Bendigo in Victoria state.

Djokovic said he had experienced air quality issues at tournaments in China, but the bushfires had created an unprecedented situation.

The Serbian superstar said he not spoken to Tennis Australia chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-prize-pool-jumps-to-49-million-biggest-gains-for-early-rounds-269945">Craig Tiley</a> "but people from my team have".

"They're obviously tracking the situation every single day as it's evolving and hopefully calming down with the smoke and fires," he said.

"I think they will, if it continues the same way and if the quality of air is affected.&nbsp;I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to, I think, create some rules about it.

"I mean, it's tough for them because scheduling has to be respected in terms of play and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sharapova-to-return-next-month-as-brisbane-wildcard-271149">Australian Open</a> starts at a certain time, so there's a lot of different things involved.&nbsp;

"But health is a concern for me and for anybody."

He said the ATP players' council was due to meet before the Australian Open and the issue would be on the agenda.

Novak Djokovic said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first Grand Slam of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health.

Novak Djokovic said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first Grand Slam of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health. The opening major of 2020 is due to start at Melbourne Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality. Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said in the early hours of Sunday that any delay would be a last resort, but it needed to be discussed. "I mean, it's fair from you to say that (ask the question)," he said when pressed on the matter in Brisbane, where he is playing for Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup team event. "Obviously, you have to always because of some extreme weather and conditions, you just have to consider it. "But I think that's probably the very, very last option for anything. I think they're going to try to do anything to not delay in terms of days and when it starts. "I mean, and I understand why, but if it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it." Catastrophic bushfires have been raging in Australia for weeks, leaving 24 dead and hundreds of properties destroyed. Tennis officials last week took the unprecedented decision to relocate the Canberra International, an ATP Challenger 125 event and on the women's ITF World Tennis Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the full tour. They said play would not have been possible in the Australian capital which has been choked by smoke, with the tournament now due to start Monday at Bendigo in Victoria state. Djokovic said he had experienced air quality issues at tournaments in China, but the bushfires had created an unprecedented situation. The Serbian superstar said he not spoken to Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley "but people from my team have". "They're obviously tracking the situation every single day as it's evolving and hopefully calming down with the smoke and fires," he said. "I think they will, if it continues the same way and if the quality of air is affected. I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to, I think, create some rules about it. "I mean, it's tough for them because scheduling has to be respected in terms of play and the Australian Open starts at a certain time, so there's a lot of different things involved. "But health is a concern for me and for anybody." He said the ATP players' council was due to meet before the Australian Open and the issue would be on the agenda.

ATP: Novak Djokovic concerned about smoke at Australian Open as bushfires continue to blaze

A dangerous fire flared up in&nbsp;southeastern&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the&nbsp;damage&nbsp;from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday.

Officials told residents and others in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-wildfires-developing-their-own-weather-systems-authorities-272116">New&nbsp;South Wales</a> (NSW) state town of Eden to leave immediately and head north if they did not have a&nbsp;bushfire&nbsp;response plan.

"If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave towards Merimbula or Pambula," the Rural Fire Service said in an alert.

Tens of thousands of homes in both NSW and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-will-never-go-back-traumatised-bushfire-evacuees-land-in-melbourne-272142">Victoria</a> states were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate thousands of people who have been trapped for days in coastal towns by the fires.

Initial estimates put&nbsp;damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said the mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented the major loss of life. Twenty-four people have been killed since the start of this year's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-calls-in-reserve-forces-to-tackle-bushfire-crisis-272029">wildfire season</a>.

Sunday's cooler temperatures and light rain forecast in some coastal areas in coming days could bring some relief, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control.

Fire officials said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat.

"The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns at the peak of the summer holiday season, in one of the biggest coordinated operations since the evacuation of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy flattened the northern city in 1974.

Australia&nbsp;has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires.

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/australian-prime-minister-scott-morrison-defers-trip-to-india-japan-as-bushfire-crisis-looms-272011">Scott Morrison</a> said Singapore and Papua&nbsp;New&nbsp;Guinea have made offers of military support;&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand was sending an additional three Air Force helicopters and crews, two Army Combat Engineer Sections and a command element to support&nbsp;Australian Defence efforts.

In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a&nbsp;new&nbsp;fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers.

Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at an Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres.

Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings.

Haze from the fires was turning skies orange in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand; police there asked people to not call the emergency phone number.

The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24. NSW <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-dead-several-missing-as-australia-counts-the-cost-of-devastating-bushfires-271335">Premier Berejiklian</a> said there was no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victorian authorities said seven people were unaccounted for in Victoria.

The federal government on Saturday announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. It also announced the creation of a federal&nbsp;bushfires response agency.&nbsp;

RFS Commissioner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">Fitzsimmons</a> criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires.

PM Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days.

More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season. Almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed in NSW state alone.

A dangerous fire flared up in southeastern Australia on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the damage from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday.

A dangerous fire flared up in southeastern Australia on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the damage from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday. Officials told residents and others in the New South Wales (NSW) state town of Eden to leave immediately and head north if they did not have a bushfire response plan. "If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave towards Merimbula or Pambula," the Rural Fire Service said in an alert. Tens of thousands of homes in both NSW and Victoria states were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate thousands of people who have been trapped for days in coastal towns by the fires. Initial estimates put damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said the mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented the major loss of life. Twenty-four people have been killed since the start of this year's wildfire season. Sunday's cooler temperatures and light rain forecast in some coastal areas in coming days could bring some relief, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control. Fire officials said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat. "The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns at the peak of the summer holiday season, in one of the biggest coordinated operations since the evacuation of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy flattened the northern city in 1974. Australia has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Singapore and Papua New Guinea have made offers of military support; New Zealand was sending an additional three Air Force helicopters and crews, two Army Combat Engineer Sections and a command element to support Australian Defence efforts. In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a new fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers. Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at an Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres. Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings. Haze from the fires was turning skies orange in New Zealand; police there asked people to not call the emergency phone number. The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24. NSW Premier Berejiklian said there was no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victorian authorities said seven people were unaccounted for in Victoria. The federal government on Saturday announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. It also announced the creation of a federal bushfires response agency. RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires. PM Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days. More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season. Almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed in NSW state alone.

New bushfire flares in southeast Australia as damage assessment begins

As 24 people were killed in massive bushfires that caused great damage in Australia, #prayforAustralia trends on Twitter as netizens sought to turn world's attention towards massive crisis.&nbsp;

People in social media also shared images of koalas and other animals who have been severely affected by the fires. Nearly, half of Australia's disease-free koala population feared dead in the huge fires.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForAustralia</a> 
1. 24 people dead 
2. 8,000 koalas dead 
3. 500M animals dead 
4. More than 1400 homes destroyed 
5. Over 5.5 million hectares burned 
6. More than 10 million people in toxic level of bushfire smoke 
Pray for Australia. 
I'm in tears RN <a href="https://t.co/ju3Gkjyh3G">pic.twitter.com/ju3Gkjyh3G</a>
— AlHajiOmoIlorin👳🏻👳🏻👳🏻 (@DRealIlorinBoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DRealIlorinBoy/status/1213726657967726592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">Australian firefighters get brief reprieve as death toll rises</a>

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This Pics! Heartbreaking Moment! 💔 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForAustralia</a> <a href="https://t.co/cTgt4ITNp2">pic.twitter.com/cTgt4ITNp2</a>
— ஆத்ரேயாடா🔥 | ˢᵒᵒʳᵃʳᵃⁱ ᵖᵒᵗᵗʳᵘ (@Athreyadaw_01) <a href="https://twitter.com/Athreyadaw_01/status/1213746426770886657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Some scientists say that half a billion native animals died in New South Wales alone.&nbsp;

Some users also urged everyone for rains in the country.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForAustralia</a> rain for Australia 🙏🙏🙏🙏so sad about this， <a href="https://t.co/Legmr0Q3Iy">pic.twitter.com/Legmr0Q3Iy</a>
— PS Detective Agency (@PSDA_Official) <a href="https://twitter.com/PSDA_Official/status/1213726416908324864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Heroes 🙏🏻🙏🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrayForAustralia</a> <a href="https://t.co/GHee11OiVo">pic.twitter.com/GHee11OiVo</a>
— Alexis Montano (@alexismontano) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexismontano/status/1213737168985681922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-people-call-emergency-services-after-skies-turn-orange-due-to-bushfires-272244">New Zealand: People call emergency services after skies turn orange due to bushfires</a>

In Australian state of New South Wales, nearly 150 fires continued to burn, with light showers providing little respite. However, blazes again reach the suburbs of Sydney.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced the largest military call-up in living memory, deploying upto 3,000 reservists to assist volunteer firefighters.

Warships and combat helicopters have already been used for the largest maritime evacuation in Australia since World War II, rescuing 4,000 people trapped for days on the foreshore of Mallacoota.

Celebrities have come out in support of the crisis and raised millions of dollars to support firefighters and fire-affected communities. American pop star Pink and Australian actress Nicole Kidman said that they would donate USD 500,000.

On Sunday, firefighters found some relief in New South Wales and Victoria due to cooler air and some rainfall.&nbsp;

But some communities are still under threat due to out-of-control fires in and around the town of Eden in New South Wales near the Victorian border.

The smoke from Australia reached New Zealand's Auckland and skies turned orange.&nbsp;

The police said that they urged people to stop calling emergency number 111, telling them the "orange" colour is due to bushfires in Australia.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As 24 people were killed in massive bushfires that caused great damage in Australia, #prayforAustralia trends on Twitter as netizens sought to turn world's attention towards massive crisis.

As 24 people were killed in massive bushfires that caused great damage in Australia, #prayforAustralia trends on Twitter as netizens sought to turn world's attention towards massive crisis. People in social media also shared images of koalas and other animals who have been severely affected by the fires. Nearly, half of Australia's disease-free koala population feared dead in the huge fires. #PrayForAustralia 1. 24 people dead 2. 8,000 koalas dead 3. 500M animals dead 4. More than 1400 homes destroyed 5. Over 5.5 million hectares burned 6. More than 10 million people in toxic level of bushfire smoke Pray for Australia. I'm in tears RN pic.twitter.com/ju3Gkjyh3G — AlHajiOmoIlorin👳🏻👳🏻👳🏻 (@DRealIlorinBoy) January 5, 2020 × Also read: Australian firefighters get brief reprieve as death toll rises This Pics! Heartbreaking Moment! 💔 #PrayForAustralia pic.twitter.com/cTgt4ITNp2 — ஆத்ரேயாடா🔥 | ˢᵒᵒʳᵃʳᵃⁱ ᵖᵒᵗᵗʳᵘ (@Athreyadaw_01) January 5, 2020 × Some scientists say that half a billion native animals died in New South Wales alone. Some users also urged everyone for rains in the country. #PrayForAustralia rain for Australia 🙏🙏🙏🙏so sad about this， pic.twitter.com/Legmr0Q3Iy — PS Detective Agency (@PSDA_Official) January 5, 2020 × Heroes 🙏🏻🙏🏻 #PrayForAustralia pic.twitter.com/GHee11OiVo — Alexis Montano (@alexismontano) January 5, 2020 × Also read: New Zealand: People call emergency services after skies turn orange due to bushfires In Australian state of New South Wales, nearly 150 fires continued to burn, with light showers providing little respite. However, blazes again reach the suburbs of Sydney. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced the largest military call-up in living memory, deploying upto 3,000 reservists to assist volunteer firefighters. Warships and combat helicopters have already been used for the largest maritime evacuation in Australia since World War II, rescuing 4,000 people trapped for days on the foreshore of Mallacoota. Celebrities have come out in support of the crisis and raised millions of dollars to support firefighters and fire-affected communities. American pop star Pink and Australian actress Nicole Kidman said that they would donate USD 500,000. On Sunday, firefighters found some relief in New South Wales and Victoria due to cooler air and some rainfall. But some communities are still under threat due to out-of-control fires in and around the town of Eden in New South Wales near the Victorian border. The smoke from Australia reached New Zealand's Auckland and skies turned orange. The police said that they urged people to stop calling emergency number 111, telling them the "orange" colour is due to bushfires in Australia.

As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter

Massive bushfires in Australia caused new concerns when the smoke reached neighbouring country New Zealand, forcing people to dial emergency numbers when they spotted orange skies.&nbsp;

The smokes have now moved North, which includes Auckland after covering much of the South Island.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">Australian firefighters get brief reprieve as death toll rises</a>

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Took these in Auckland city, New Zealand at 3pm today. The smoke from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianBushfire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianBushfire</a> shrouding everything in orange. <a href="https://t.co/tgoRx4I11v">pic.twitter.com/tgoRx4I11v</a>
— Gala Georgette (@GalaGeorgette) <a href="https://twitter.com/GalaGeorgette/status/1213657941850513408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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After the skies turned "scary", people in Auckland were urged by police not to dial the 111 emergency number to report the orange haze in the sky coming from Australia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">ATP: Novak Djokovic concerned about smoke at Australian Open as bushfires continue to blaze</a>

"We are currently receiving high numbers of calls related to this," police said.

People in New Zealand shared images of orange skies seen across Auckland.

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Just took a couple of shots of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Auckland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Auckland</a> smoke from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianBushfire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianBushfire</a>. Looks absolutely insane. <a href="https://t.co/zCK8DFzxlM">pic.twitter.com/zCK8DFzxlM</a>
— Cinematic Captures (@CineCaptures) <a href="https://twitter.com/CineCaptures/status/1213641554738348033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Zimena Dormer-Didovich, a local, said that her 14-year-old asthmatic son was feeling the effects of the haze.

"It's very unsettling to see this. I can't imagine what the Australians just be experiencing." said Dormer-Didovich.&nbsp;

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Auckland skies in 4 unfiltered shots<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianBushfire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianBushfire</a> <a href="https://t.co/nTPW38Nkzf">pic.twitter.com/nTPW38Nkzf</a>
— Keith Miller (@keith_miller_nz) <a href="https://twitter.com/keith_miller_nz/status/1213634729112522752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Experts say that the change in colour is caused by the smoke which reduces the visibility of blue light.&nbsp;

Forecaster Weatherwatch.co.nz said the appearance of the sky changed dramatically in the early afternoon.

"The gloomy weather is likely to continue for the rest of Sunday with this next main plume moving through and thickening over Sunday afternoon," WeatherWatch said.&nbsp;

At least 24 people have been killed in this season's bushfires in Australia. More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt in the fires.&nbsp;

(with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

Massive bushfires in Australia caused new concerns when the smoke reached neighbouring country New Zealand, forcing people to dial emergency numbers when they spotted orange skies.

Massive bushfires in Australia caused new concerns when the smoke reached neighbouring country New Zealand, forcing people to dial emergency numbers when they spotted orange skies. The smokes have now moved North, which includes Auckland after covering much of the South Island. Also read: Australian firefighters get brief reprieve as death toll rises Took these in Auckland city, New Zealand at 3pm today. The smoke from the #AustralianBushfire shrouding everything in orange. pic.twitter.com/tgoRx4I11v — Gala Georgette (@GalaGeorgette) January 5, 2020 × After the skies turned "scary", people in Auckland were urged by police not to dial the 111 emergency number to report the orange haze in the sky coming from Australia. Also read: ATP: Novak Djokovic concerned about smoke at Australian Open as bushfires continue to blaze "We are currently receiving high numbers of calls related to this," police said. People in New Zealand shared images of orange skies seen across Auckland. Just took a couple of shots of the #Auckland smoke from the #AustralianBushfire. Looks absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/zCK8DFzxlM — Cinematic Captures (@CineCaptures) January 5, 2020 × Zimena Dormer-Didovich, a local, said that her 14-year-old asthmatic son was feeling the effects of the haze. "It's very unsettling to see this. I can't imagine what the Australians just be experiencing." said Dormer-Didovich. Auckland skies in 4 unfiltered shots#AustralianBushfire pic.twitter.com/nTPW38Nkzf — Keith Miller (@keith_miller_nz) January 5, 2020 × Experts say that the change in colour is caused by the smoke which reduces the visibility of blue light. Forecaster Weatherwatch.co.nz said the appearance of the sky changed dramatically in the early afternoon. "The gloomy weather is likely to continue for the rest of Sunday with this next main plume moving through and thickening over Sunday afternoon," WeatherWatch said. At least 24 people have been killed in this season's bushfires in Australia. More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt in the fires. (with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

New Zealand: People call emergency services after skies turn orange due to bushfires

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-wildlife-destroyed-by-intense-wildfires-could-take-decades-to-recover-271954">Bushfires</a> burned dangerously out of control on Australia's east coast on Saturday, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds that had firefighters battling to save lives and property, as a change in wind conditions merged several large fire fronts.

By late evening, Victoria had 14 fires rated at emergency or evacuate warning levels, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/toddler-son-receives-posthumous-medal-for-killed-australian-firefighter-271622">New South Wales</a> had 11 rated emergency, with more than 150 others burning across the states. New fires had started, and others had broken containment lines.

"There are a number of fires that are coming together, very strong, very large, intense fires that are creating some of these fire-generated thunderstorms," New South Wales <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-navy-evacuates-people-trapped-in-mallacoota-as-bushfires-rage-271833">Rural Fire Service</a> (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said at an evening briefing.

"And unfortunately we've still got many hours to go of these elevated and dangerous conditions."

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said conditions were deteriorating rapidly as a gusty southerly wind change pushed up the coast and smoke plumes from the fires triggered storms.

Authorities are worried the fires could turn out to be worse than New Year's Eve when they burnt massive tracts of bushland and forced thousands of residents and summer holidaymakers to seek refuge on beaches.

In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews said while conditions were difficult, the job of firefighters had been made easier by tens of thousands of people following advice to evacuate.

It may be Sunday or later before damage assessments can be made. Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-scrambles-to-reach-thousands-stranded-by-bushfires-at-least-8-dead-271387">Scott Morrison</a> put the national death toll from the current fire season, which began in September, at 23. Twelve of those are from this week's fires alone.

In updates, the NSW RFS repeatedly delivered the same blunt advice to those who had not evacuated at-risk areas: "It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches."

Residents used social media to post photos of the sky turning black and red from the smoke and glare of the fires, including in the Victorian town of Mallacoota, where around 1,000 people were evacuated by sea on Friday.

The first of those evacuees arrived near Melbourne on Saturday morning after a 20-hour journey by boat and a second ship with about 1,000 people landed in the afternoon.

The federal government announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief.

Andy Gillham, the incident controller in the Victorian town of Bairnsdale, said the area had avoided the worst of the fires on Saturday but stressed this was an exceptional fire season.

"In a normal year, we would start to see the fire season kick-off in a big way around early January and we're already up towards a million hectares of burnt country. This is a marathon event and we expect to be busy managing these fires for at least the next eight weeks," he said.

<img alt="The sky turns red" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4b9e1139-b51c-418d-b02a-6bd8b6bc57bf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-04T161928.829_2.jpg" /> 
[The sky turns red in New South Wales, Australia. (Courtesy: Reuters)]

Temperatures topped 45C (113F) in much of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-wildlife-destroyed-by-intense-wildfires-could-take-decades-to-recover-271954">Sydney</a> metropolitan area, with Penrith recording a high of 48.9C (120F) according to the BOM. Canberra, the national capital, recorded a temperature of 44C just after 4 p.m., which the chief minister said was a record for the territory.

As the fires have flared, many towns have been isolated as major and minor roads are closed. Some fires are generating their own storm systems, which create the risk of lightning strikes generating new fires.

A late southerly wind change on Saturday dramatically lowered temperatures but also brought wind gusts of 70-80 km per hour (43-50 miles per hour) that caused some major fires near the border of Victoria and New South Wales states to merge and strengthen.

In South Australia, two people died on Kangaroo Island, a popular holiday spot not far off the coast. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said more than 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) have burned there, about one-quarter of the total area.

Six people remain unaccounted for in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-calls-in-reserve-forces-to-tackle-bushfire-crisis-272029">Victoria</a>, Premier Andrews said on Saturday, down from 28 reported on Friday.

The focus on Saturday is preventing more loss of life, authorities said. National parks have been closed and people urged earlier this week to evacuate large parts of NSW's south coast and Victoria's northeastern regions, magnets for holidaymakers at the peak of Australia's summer school holidays.

Morrison confirmed that his visit to India and Japan scheduled for mid-January had been postponed due to the fires.

More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season.

Bushfires burned dangerously out of control on Australia's east coast on Saturday, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds that had firefighters battling to save lives and property, as a change in wind conditions merged several large fire fronts.

Bushfires burned dangerously out of control on Australia's east coast on Saturday, fanned by high temperatures and strong winds that had firefighters battling to save lives and property, as a change in wind conditions merged several large fire fronts. By late evening, Victoria had 14 fires rated at emergency or evacuate warning levels, and New South Wales had 11 rated emergency, with more than 150 others burning across the states. New fires had started, and others had broken containment lines. "There are a number of fires that are coming together, very strong, very large, intense fires that are creating some of these fire-generated thunderstorms," New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said at an evening briefing. "And unfortunately we've still got many hours to go of these elevated and dangerous conditions." The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said conditions were deteriorating rapidly as a gusty southerly wind change pushed up the coast and smoke plumes from the fires triggered storms. Authorities are worried the fires could turn out to be worse than New Year's Eve when they burnt massive tracts of bushland and forced thousands of residents and summer holidaymakers to seek refuge on beaches. In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews said while conditions were difficult, the job of firefighters had been made easier by tens of thousands of people following advice to evacuate. It may be Sunday or later before damage assessments can be made. Prime Minister Scott Morrison put the national death toll from the current fire season, which began in September, at 23. Twelve of those are from this week's fires alone. In updates, the NSW RFS repeatedly delivered the same blunt advice to those who had not evacuated at-risk areas: "It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches." Residents used social media to post photos of the sky turning black and red from the smoke and glare of the fires, including in the Victorian town of Mallacoota, where around 1,000 people were evacuated by sea on Friday. The first of those evacuees arrived near Melbourne on Saturday morning after a 20-hour journey by boat and a second ship with about 1,000 people landed in the afternoon. The federal government announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. Andy Gillham, the incident controller in the Victorian town of Bairnsdale, said the area had avoided the worst of the fires on Saturday but stressed this was an exceptional fire season. "In a normal year, we would start to see the fire season kick-off in a big way around early January and we're already up towards a million hectares of burnt country. This is a marathon event and we expect to be busy managing these fires for at least the next eight weeks," he said. [The sky turns red in New South Wales, Australia. (Courtesy: Reuters)] Temperatures topped 45C (113F) in much of the Sydney metropolitan area, with Penrith recording a high of 48.9C (120F) according to the BOM. Canberra, the national capital, recorded a temperature of 44C just after 4 p.m., which the chief minister said was a record for the territory. As the fires have flared, many towns have been isolated as major and minor roads are closed. Some fires are generating their own storm systems, which create the risk of lightning strikes generating new fires. A late southerly wind change on Saturday dramatically lowered temperatures but also brought wind gusts of 70-80 km per hour (43-50 miles per hour) that caused some major fires near the border of Victoria and New South Wales states to merge and strengthen. In South Australia, two people died on Kangaroo Island, a popular holiday spot not far off the coast. South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said more than 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) have burned there, about one-quarter of the total area. Six people remain unaccounted for in Victoria, Premier Andrews said on Saturday, down from 28 reported on Friday. The focus on Saturday is preventing more loss of life, authorities said. National parks have been closed and people urged earlier this week to evacuate large parts of NSW's south coast and Victoria's northeastern regions, magnets for holidaymakers at the peak of Australia's summer school holidays. Morrison confirmed that his visit to India and Japan scheduled for mid-January had been postponed due to the fires. More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season.

Fuelled by high temperatures and strong winds, Australian bushfires continues rage

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-as-bushfires-continue-to-rage-one-more-firefighter-dies-2-others-injured-271059">bushfires</a> ravaging Australia are generating so much heat that they are creating their own weather systems including dry lightning storms and fire tornadoes.

On Saturday, the New South Wales <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-thousands-trapped-as-bushfires-encircles-coastal-town-271141">Rural Fire Service</a> (RFS) warned that a fire on the coast was generating its own weather system 287 km (178 miles) south of Sydney.

"A fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the Currowan fire on the northern edge of the fire near Nowra. This is a very dangerous situation. Monitor the conditions around you and take appropriate action," the RFS said on social media.

The weather conditions are the results of the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. They have been recorded all over the world but as the global climate changes, they may become a more frequent occurrence for Australians, the country's Climate Council said in a 2019 report.

An&nbsp;RFS firefighter was killed on Monday by a fire tornado caused by the collapse of a pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation that rolled over the fire truck he was in.

Shane Fitzsimmons, the NSW RFS commissioner, pointed to that death when asked about the fire-induced weather patterns.

"That extraordinary event resulted in cyclonic-type base flipping over a 10-tonne truck. That is the volatility and danger that exists," he said.

The pyrocumulonimbus clouds are essentially a thunderstorm that forms from the smoke plume of fire as intense heat from the fire causes air to rise rapidly, drawing in cooler air, according to information from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-australia-records-hottest-day-southern-town-expected-to-near-50-degrees-268999">Australian Bureau of Meteorology</a>.

As the cloud climbs and then cools in the low temperatures of the upper atmosphere, the collisions of ice particles in the higher parts of the cloud build up an electrical charge, which can be released as lightning.

These can cause dangerous and unpredictable changes in fire behaviour, making them harder to fight as well as causing lightning strikes that could ignite new fires.

The rising air also spurs intense updrafts that suck in so much air that strong winds develop, causing a fire to burn hotter and spread further.

The bushfires ravaging Australia are generating so much heat that they are creating their own weather systems including dry lightning storms and fire tornadoes. On Saturday, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) warned that a fire on the coast was generating its own weather system 287 km (178 miles) south of Sydney.

The bushfires ravaging Australia are generating so much heat that they are creating their own weather systems including dry lightning storms and fire tornadoes. On Saturday, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) warned that a fire on the coast was generating its own weather system 287 km (178 miles) south of Sydney. "A fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the Currowan fire on the northern edge of the fire near Nowra. This is a very dangerous situation. Monitor the conditions around you and take appropriate action," the RFS said on social media. The weather conditions are the results of the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. They have been recorded all over the world but as the global climate changes, they may become a more frequent occurrence for Australians, the country's Climate Council said in a 2019 report. An RFS firefighter was killed on Monday by a fire tornado caused by the collapse of a pyrocumulonimbus cloud formation that rolled over the fire truck he was in. Shane Fitzsimmons, the NSW RFS commissioner, pointed to that death when asked about the fire-induced weather patterns. "That extraordinary event resulted in cyclonic-type base flipping over a 10-tonne truck. That is the volatility and danger that exists," he said. The pyrocumulonimbus clouds are essentially a thunderstorm that forms from the smoke plume of fire as intense heat from the fire causes air to rise rapidly, drawing in cooler air, according to information from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. As the cloud climbs and then cools in the low temperatures of the upper atmosphere, the collisions of ice particles in the higher parts of the cloud build up an electrical charge, which can be released as lightning. These can cause dangerous and unpredictable changes in fire behaviour, making them harder to fight as well as causing lightning strikes that could ignite new fires. The rising air also spurs intense updrafts that suck in so much air that strong winds develop, causing a fire to burn hotter and spread further.

Australian wildfires developing their own 'weather systems': Authorities

On January 3, the Australian navy started evacuating some of the thousands trapped on the fire-ravaged country's east coast as a searing weather front was set to whip up more blazes across the states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW). This has foced as many as 4000 residents and tourists to take shelter on the beaches. #WION #Australia #AustraliaBushfires #NSW #AustralianNavy

Navy comes to aid of thousands trapped in Australia bushfires

Residents and tourists along the New South Wales south coast started evacuations on Thursday (January 2) with authorities declaring a "tourist leave zone" for hundred's of kilometres of the coast.

Thousands evacuate New South Wales south coast ahead of bushfire threat

A major operation to reach thousands of people stranded in fire-ravaged seaside towns was under way in Australia on Wednesday after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-thousands-trapped-as-bushfires-encircles-coastal-town-271141">deadly bushfires</a> ripped through popular tourist spots and rural areas leaving at least eight people dead.

Navy ships and military aircraft were deployed alongside emergency crews to provide humanitarian relief and assess the damage from the deadliest spate of blazes yet in a months-long bushfire crisis.

Police said three more bodies were discovered Wednesday, bringing the confirmed death toll since late Monday to eight, including a volunteer firefighter killed when a "fire tornado" flipped his 10-tonne truck.

There were mounting fears for several others missing after the country's southeast was devastated by out-of-control blazes, which destroyed more than 200 homes and left some small towns in ruins.

Information was trickling out of coastal communities where thousands of holidaymakers and locals were thought to have seen in the New Year taking refuge from flames at surf clubs, as power outages and damage to telecommunications towers brought down phone lines and the internet.

New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said emergency services faced a "real challenge" trying to help injured people in isolated areas.

<img alt="Bushfires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="76075a35-6f13-4d6f-af94-d2cfff3e5d86" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2843%29_3.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/australia-wildfires-trap-thousands-in-coastal-town-271185#forced-to-head-to-waterfront-271170">Also read: How tourists, residents battling wild fires in Australia</a>

"We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft. It's been... too dangerous and we simply can't access, nor can the people in these areas get out," he said.

Fires were raging across the country and the defence force said it could take days for the military to reach people in some remote areas.

'Ember attacks'

There was relief in the town of Mallacoota -- where towering columns of smoke turned the sky pitch black and nearby fires caused waves of "ember attacks" -- after a change in the wind spared around 4,000 people who had huddled on the foreshore.

Survivors cheered firefighters who battled to protect them by creating a protective ring of fire trucks.

"I understand there was a standing ovation at the end of that for the firefighters," Victoria Emergency Management commissioner Andrew Crisp told public broadcaster ABC.

Authorities were preparing for the possibility that Mallacoota could be cut off for weeks: aircraft have begun dropping supplies into the town while a barge with two weeks' worth of supplies was due to arrive later Wednesday.&nbsp;

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Evacuation on the beach at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/batemansbay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#batemansbay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/qZzOJcOKz1">pic.twitter.com/qZzOJcOKz1</a>
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Paramedics were reportedly assessing the injured and moving those requiring further treatment to a 25-bed floating medical centre off the coast.

Many people have returned to find their homes burned to the ground, with the task of rebuilding shattered communities expected to take years.

Gary Hinton escaped flames roaring through Cobargo early Tuesday and returned to the stricken town to find his father's house largely intact, but many other buildings reduced to cinders.

"It wasn't good. It's turned out pretty devastating for everyone," he told AFP.

'Long and dangerous fight'

Cooler temperatures and easing winds provided a window of opportunity for relief efforts Wednesday, but there were concerns over new fires sparked by lightning in alpine regions.

"There's a lot of people holidaying, again, up in those areas," Crisp said. "We'll be prioritising those (fires) and hitting them as hard as we can. We don't need any new fires."

Firefighters were racing to take advantage of the milder weather in the country's southeast to contain dozens of blazes, as authorities warned the fire danger would spike on Saturday as temperatures soar again.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/australian-wildlife-battles-to-survive-as-bushfires-rage-271041">Also read: The struggles of Australian wildlife to survive as bushfires rage</a>

"At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

"That makes this a long and dangerous and complex fight, a long and dangerous process to support everyone who's been impacted by it," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews added.

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Locals and tourists holding tight on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mallacoota?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mallacoota</a> wharf as the bushfire passes through the popular seaside summer holiday spot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustraliaBurns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustraliaBurns</a> (📷 from ‘travelling_aus_family’ on Instagram). <a href="https://t.co/NfQxlwObxv">pic.twitter.com/NfQxlwObxv</a>
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This season's blazes have killed at least 17 people, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and scorched about 5.5 million hectares (13.5 million acres) -- an area bigger than Denmark or the Netherlands.

For weeks, major Australian cities have been choked by toxic bushfire smoke, and on Wednesday air quality reached hazardous levels in Canberra as visibility in the capital plummeted.

Satellite images showed smoke from the latest fires had blown across the Tasman Sea to reach New Zealand.

<img alt="Bushfire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="796bb238-1537-42f0-b742-40a19945edec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2842%29_1.jpg" />

The unprecedented crisis has sparked street protests calling on the government to immediately act on climate change, which scientists say is creating a longer and more intense bushfire season.

Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under increasing pressure for his response, which has included holidaying in Hawaii as the disaster unfolded and reiterating his steadfast support for Australia's lucrative -- but heavily polluting -- coal mining industry.

Officials in Sydney have also been criticised for ignoring calls to cancel the harbour city's famed New Year's Eve fireworks display.

&nbsp;

A major operation to reach thousands of people stranded in fire-ravaged seaside towns was under way in Australia on Wednesday after deadly bushfires ripped through popular tourist spots and rural areas leaving at least eight people dead.

A major operation to reach thousands of people stranded in fire-ravaged seaside towns was under way in Australia on Wednesday after deadly bushfires ripped through popular tourist spots and rural areas leaving at least eight people dead. Navy ships and military aircraft were deployed alongside emergency crews to provide humanitarian relief and assess the damage from the deadliest spate of blazes yet in a months-long bushfire crisis. Police said three more bodies were discovered Wednesday, bringing the confirmed death toll since late Monday to eight, including a volunteer firefighter killed when a "fire tornado" flipped his 10-tonne truck. There were mounting fears for several others missing after the country's southeast was devastated by out-of-control blazes, which destroyed more than 200 homes and left some small towns in ruins. Information was trickling out of coastal communities where thousands of holidaymakers and locals were thought to have seen in the New Year taking refuge from flames at surf clubs, as power outages and damage to telecommunications towers brought down phone lines and the internet. New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said emergency services faced a "real challenge" trying to help injured people in isolated areas. Also read: How tourists, residents battling wild fires in Australia "We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft. It's been... too dangerous and we simply can't access, nor can the people in these areas get out," he said. Fires were raging across the country and the defence force said it could take days for the military to reach people in some remote areas. 'Ember attacks' There was relief in the town of Mallacoota -- where towering columns of smoke turned the sky pitch black and nearby fires caused waves of "ember attacks" -- after a change in the wind spared around 4,000 people who had huddled on the foreshore. Survivors cheered firefighters who battled to protect them by creating a protective ring of fire trucks. "I understand there was a standing ovation at the end of that for the firefighters," Victoria Emergency Management commissioner Andrew Crisp told public broadcaster ABC. Authorities were preparing for the possibility that Mallacoota could be cut off for weeks: aircraft have begun dropping supplies into the town while a barge with two weeks' worth of supplies was due to arrive later Wednesday. Evacuation on the beach at #batemansbay @abcnews pic.twitter.com/qZzOJcOKz1 — Alastair Prior (@alastairprior) December 31, 2019 × Paramedics were reportedly assessing the injured and moving those requiring further treatment to a 25-bed floating medical centre off the coast. Many people have returned to find their homes burned to the ground, with the task of rebuilding shattered communities expected to take years. Gary Hinton escaped flames roaring through Cobargo early Tuesday and returned to the stricken town to find his father's house largely intact, but many other buildings reduced to cinders. "It wasn't good. It's turned out pretty devastating for everyone," he told AFP. 'Long and dangerous fight' Cooler temperatures and easing winds provided a window of opportunity for relief efforts Wednesday, but there were concerns over new fires sparked by lightning in alpine regions. "There's a lot of people holidaying, again, up in those areas," Crisp said. "We'll be prioritising those (fires) and hitting them as hard as we can. We don't need any new fires." Firefighters were racing to take advantage of the milder weather in the country's southeast to contain dozens of blazes, as authorities warned the fire danger would spike on Saturday as temperatures soar again. Also read: The struggles of Australian wildlife to survive as bushfires rage "At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. "That makes this a long and dangerous and complex fight, a long and dangerous process to support everyone who's been impacted by it," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews added. Locals and tourists holding tight on the #Mallacoota wharf as the bushfire passes through the popular seaside summer holiday spot #AustraliaBurns (📷 from ‘travelling_aus_family’ on Instagram). pic.twitter.com/NfQxlwObxv — Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) December 31, 2019 × This season's blazes have killed at least 17 people, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and scorched about 5.5 million hectares (13.5 million acres) -- an area bigger than Denmark or the Netherlands. For weeks, major Australian cities have been choked by toxic bushfire smoke, and on Wednesday air quality reached hazardous levels in Canberra as visibility in the capital plummeted. Satellite images showed smoke from the latest fires had blown across the Tasman Sea to reach New Zealand. The unprecedented crisis has sparked street protests calling on the government to immediately act on climate change, which scientists say is creating a longer and more intense bushfire season. Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under increasing pressure for his response, which has included holidaying in Hawaii as the disaster unfolded and reiterating his steadfast support for Australia's lucrative -- but heavily polluting -- coal mining industry. Officials in Sydney have also been criticised for ignoring calls to cancel the harbour city's famed New Year's Eve fireworks display.

At least 8 dead as Australia scrambles to reach thousands stranded by bushfires

Thousands of holidaymakers and residents risked being stranded in a swathe of Victoria in Australia's southeast as rising temperature and new heatwave continue to fuel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bushfires-hit-emergency-level-on-sydneys-outskirts-one-dead-in-south-australia-269445">bushfires</a>.&nbsp;

The authorities earlier asked more than 30,000 people to evacuate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/residents-holidaymakers-urged-to-leave-australian-region-as-fire-conditions-worsen-270824">Victoria state's popular East Gippsland region </a>on Sunday, adding that soaring temperatures and gusting wings would trigger three large blazes, cutting off the last major road still open.

The residents and tourists in the area faced being stranded as it now "too late to leave", Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said. The Victoria Emergency Management said that it was "not possible" to provide aid to all the visitors in that area.&nbsp;

<img alt="Bushfire " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c872c7-efc3-4e68-8ab7-ba1de628e4a9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2847%29_0.jpg" />

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In state's seven out of the nine districts, fire danger is forecast to be extreme.&nbsp;

Neighbouring South Australia is witnessing "catastrophic" fire conditions in some regions as temperatures cross the 40 degrees Celsius-mark and storms bring damaging winds.&nbsp;

The Country Fire Service's Brenton Eden warned that it would be a very "dangerous" day for people in the state, with lightning causing a number of blazes.&nbsp;

New South Wales, which is the worst-affected state in Australia, is also likely to experience deteriorating conditions in the next two days as over 100 fires are burning in the region which includes 40 uncontained.&nbsp;

The temperatures in New South Wales are also expected to climb on New year's eve as thousands traditionally gather near Sydney to watch famous firework celebrations.&nbsp;

So far, 10 people have been killed in season's bushfires, which destroyed 1,000 homes and burned over three million hectares (7.4 million acres) an area bigger than Belgium.

<img alt="Bushfire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b4ea10b5-3178-4d91-b637-77b0e9183be1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2846%29_1.jpg" />

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hundreds of fires are burning across Australia, which is experiencing a devastating summer bushfire season triggered by a prolonged drought and climate change.

The bushfires have made Sydney and other major cities experience toxic smoke for weeks.&nbsp;

This bushfire season is regarded as one of the toughest due to its size and geographical breadth, despite the southern hemisphere summer not reaching its mid-point yet.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Bushfire" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5ca798c-b35d-46b3-9f01-43875cb0a44b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2848%29_0.jpg" />

The conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has still continued his relentless support to Australia's flourishing mining industry and refused to take further action to cut down emissions.&nbsp;

(with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Thousands of holidaymakers and residents risked being stranded in a swathe of Victoria in Australia's southeast as rising temperature and new heatwave continue to fuel bushfires.

Thousands of holidaymakers and residents risked being stranded in a swathe of Victoria in Australia's southeast as rising temperature and new heatwave continue to fuel bushfires. The authorities earlier asked more than 30,000 people to evacuate Victoria state's popular East Gippsland region on Sunday, adding that soaring temperatures and gusting wings would trigger three large blazes, cutting off the last major road still open. The residents and tourists in the area faced being stranded as it now "too late to leave", Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said. The Victoria Emergency Management said that it was "not possible" to provide aid to all the visitors in that area. In state's seven out of the nine districts, fire danger is forecast to be extreme. Neighbouring South Australia is witnessing "catastrophic" fire conditions in some regions as temperatures cross the 40 degrees Celsius-mark and storms bring damaging winds. The Country Fire Service's Brenton Eden warned that it would be a very "dangerous" day for people in the state, with lightning causing a number of blazes. New South Wales, which is the worst-affected state in Australia, is also likely to experience deteriorating conditions in the next two days as over 100 fires are burning in the region which includes 40 uncontained. The temperatures in New South Wales are also expected to climb on New year's eve as thousands traditionally gather near Sydney to watch famous firework celebrations. So far, 10 people have been killed in season's bushfires, which destroyed 1,000 homes and burned over three million hectares (7.4 million acres) an area bigger than Belgium. Hundreds of fires are burning across Australia, which is experiencing a devastating summer bushfire season triggered by a prolonged drought and climate change. The bushfires have made Sydney and other major cities experience toxic smoke for weeks. This bushfire season is regarded as one of the toughest due to its size and geographical breadth, despite the southern hemisphere summer not reaching its mid-point yet. The conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has still continued his relentless support to Australia's flourishing mining industry and refused to take further action to cut down emissions. (with inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Australia: Nearly 30,000 tourists at risk as massive bushfires continue

Catastrophic conditions fuelled massive bushfires across <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-emergency-declared-in-australia-after-unprecedented-bushfires-269043">Australia's New South Wales </a>state on Saturday, with three blazes around Sydney burning at emergency level, while in South Australia one person was found dead in a fire zone.

Some major roads outside Sydney were closed and authorities asked people to delay travel, at the start of what is normally a busy Christmas holiday period, warning of the unpredictability of the fires as winds of up to 70 kph (44 mph) were set to fan the flames as temperatures soared above 40C (104F).

The heat and strong winds created "catastrophic fire conditions", the head of fire services in rural areas of NSW state told journalists.

"They are the very worst of conditions," said NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. "Given we have a landscape with so much active fire burning, you have a recipe for very serious concern and a very dangerous day."

Close to 100 fires were burning across NSW on Saturday afternoon - of which six were characterised as emergency level.

Just days out from Christmas, local police warned people to avoid travelling throughout the day as roads would likely close and temperatures would soar.

"Today is not the day to start your holiday," a NSW police spokeswomen said.

Close to 10,000 emergency personnel would be working across NSW on Saturday. The state's Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said it was probably the largest emergency deployment ever seen in NSW.

Wind change expected

A southerly wind change is expected late on Saturday afternoon. It is forecast to bring winds of up to 90 kph (56 mph), which Fitzsimmons said would initially worsen fire conditions before leading to a dramatic drop in temperatures.

The death of two firefighters on Thursday night when their fire truck was struck by a falling tree as it travelled through the front line of a fire brought the wildfires death toll in New South Wales to eight since the start of October.

Shortly after the two deaths were announced, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deeply-regret-any-offence-caused-to-australians-pm-scott-morrison-apologises-for-hawaii-vacation-amid-bushfire-crisis-269362">Prime Minister Scott Morrison </a>issued a statement saying he would return as soon as possible from a family holiday in Hawaii, a trip that had drawn sharp criticism as the wildfires crisis deepened.

South Australia, Victoria fires

In South Australia, authorities said one person had been found dead, another was critically injured and 15 homes had been destroyed by a fire in the Adelaide Hills, just 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the state capital of Adelaide.

The death followed another fatality in South Australia on Friday, the result of a car crash which sparked a fire.

Authorities said fires had burnt through some 40,000 hectares in the state and 23 firefighters suffered injuries on Friday.

In Victoria, authorities said 142 fires had started in the state since Friday, with two burning at an emergency level on Saturday afternoon.

Australia has been fighting wildfires for weeks, with blazes destroying more than 700 homes and nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of bushland.

Catastrophic conditions fuelled massive bushfires across Australia's New South Wales state on Saturday, with three blazes around Sydney burning at emergency level, while in South Australia one person was found dead in a fire zone.

Catastrophic conditions fuelled massive bushfires across Australia's New South Wales state on Saturday, with three blazes around Sydney burning at emergency level, while in South Australia one person was found dead in a fire zone. Some major roads outside Sydney were closed and authorities asked people to delay travel, at the start of what is normally a busy Christmas holiday period, warning of the unpredictability of the fires as winds of up to 70 kph (44 mph) were set to fan the flames as temperatures soared above 40C (104F). The heat and strong winds created "catastrophic fire conditions", the head of fire services in rural areas of NSW state told journalists. "They are the very worst of conditions," said NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. "Given we have a landscape with so much active fire burning, you have a recipe for very serious concern and a very dangerous day." Close to 100 fires were burning across NSW on Saturday afternoon - of which six were characterised as emergency level. Just days out from Christmas, local police warned people to avoid travelling throughout the day as roads would likely close and temperatures would soar. "Today is not the day to start your holiday," a NSW police spokeswomen said. Close to 10,000 emergency personnel would be working across NSW on Saturday. The state's Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said it was probably the largest emergency deployment ever seen in NSW. Wind change expected A southerly wind change is expected late on Saturday afternoon. It is forecast to bring winds of up to 90 kph (56 mph), which Fitzsimmons said would initially worsen fire conditions before leading to a dramatic drop in temperatures. The death of two firefighters on Thursday night when their fire truck was struck by a falling tree as it travelled through the front line of a fire brought the wildfires death toll in New South Wales to eight since the start of October. Shortly after the two deaths were announced, Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a statement saying he would return as soon as possible from a family holiday in Hawaii, a trip that had drawn sharp criticism as the wildfires crisis deepened. South Australia, Victoria fires In South Australia, authorities said one person had been found dead, another was critically injured and 15 homes had been destroyed by a fire in the Adelaide Hills, just 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the state capital of Adelaide. The death followed another fatality in South Australia on Friday, the result of a car crash which sparked a fire. Authorities said fires had burnt through some 40,000 hectares in the state and 23 firefighters suffered injuries on Friday. In Victoria, authorities said 142 fires had started in the state since Friday, with two burning at an emergency level on Saturday afternoon. Australia has been fighting wildfires for weeks, with blazes destroying more than 700 homes and nearly 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of bushland.

Bushfires hit emergency level on Sydney's outskirts; one dead in South Australia

Emergency warnings for dangerous bushfires were in effect on both sides of Australia on Sunday. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said several properties were destroyed near Mount Tomah on the east coast of the country in New South Wales, when the Gospers Mountain fire jumped containment lines Sunday afternoon. #AustraliaBurning

Bushfires still threatening in Australia's eastern and western parts

The thick smoke that has covered Sydney for weeks has sparked protests across Australia.&nbsp;

Thousands gathered outside Sydney's Town Hall, as cooler winds eased bushfires and contained the haze around the city.

The protests have been demanding action by the government <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australians-to-protest-as-bushfire-haze-sparks-health-concerns-267578">amid the bushfire crisis</a>. The protesters wore face maks, held placards, and chanted slogans.

The bushfires have claimed the lives of four people since November. Additionally, the fires have burnt about 2.5 million acres of farmland and bush. More than 400 homes were destroyed in the mega-fire.

Owing to public outcry, Australia's Liberal-National government defended its policies regarding climate change. According to them, there is no link between climate change and the severity of fires.&nbsp;

Watch: Australia's bushfire now a 'mega blaze'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australias-bushfire-now-a-mega-blaze-267009/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The devastating fires have focused attention on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/climate-change-takes-a-toll-on-sydney-264029">climate change</a>, with scientists saying the blazes have come earlier and with more intensity than usual due to global warming and a prolonged drought.

At least 5,000 people showed up at&nbsp;Wednesday's protest, according to organiser Chloe Rafferty, who said the bushfires and smoke haze had created anger at the conservative government's inaction on curbing emissions.

"I think the wider public can see that we are not expecting the climate crisis in the future but we are facing the climate crisis now," she told AFP.

"People are experiencing it in their day-to-day lives."

As well as a rise in people visiting hospitals with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydneysiders-urged-to-stay-indoors-as-australian-bushfire-smoke-blankets-city-263900">smoke-related health symptoms</a>, the number of emergency calls for ambulances spiked 30 per cent last week.&nbsp;

"For most people, smoke causes mild symptoms like sore eyes, nose, and throat," top health department official Richard Broome said.

"However, people with conditions like asthma, emphysema, and angina are at greater risk because the smoke can trigger their symptoms."

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

The thick smoke that has covered Sydney for weeks has sparked protests across Australia. Thousands gathered outside Sydney's Town Hall, as cooler winds eased bushfires and contained the haze around the city.

The thick smoke that has covered Sydney for weeks has sparked protests across Australia. Thousands gathered outside Sydney's Town Hall, as cooler winds eased bushfires and contained the haze around the city. The protests have been demanding action by the government amid the bushfire crisis. The protesters wore face maks, held placards, and chanted slogans. The bushfires have claimed the lives of four people since November. Additionally, the fires have burnt about 2.5 million acres of farmland and bush. More than 400 homes were destroyed in the mega-fire. Owing to public outcry, Australia's Liberal-National government defended its policies regarding climate change. According to them, there is no link between climate change and the severity of fires. Watch: Australia's bushfire now a 'mega blaze' The devastating fires have focused attention on climate change, with scientists saying the blazes have come earlier and with more intensity than usual due to global warming and a prolonged drought. At least 5,000 people showed up at Wednesday's protest, according to organiser Chloe Rafferty, who said the bushfires and smoke haze had created anger at the conservative government's inaction on curbing emissions. "I think the wider public can see that we are not expecting the climate crisis in the future but we are facing the climate crisis now," she told AFP. "People are experiencing it in their day-to-day lives." As well as a rise in people visiting hospitals with smoke-related health symptoms, the number of emergency calls for ambulances spiked 30 per cent last week. "For most people, smoke causes mild symptoms like sore eyes, nose, and throat," top health department official Richard Broome said. "However, people with conditions like asthma, emphysema, and angina are at greater risk because the smoke can trigger their symptoms." (With inputs from Reuters)

Australia: Thousands protest against climate change with bushfire in focus

Australia's Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bushfire-threat-spreads-wreaks-havoc-in-australia-as-sydney-chokes-263481">unprecedented bushfires</a> ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming.

As dozens of new blazes scorched the countryside and the country's largest city was cloaked in hazardous smoke, conservative leader Scott Morrison defended his climate record, saying Australia was "doing our bit".

His comments came after weeks spent refusing to speak about the link between climate change and deadly fires described by the emergency services as unprecedented in number and scale for the early bushfire season.

As more people in the southeast of the country were told to evacuate their homes and schoolchildren in Sydney were again forced to play indoors, Morrison dismissed mounting calls for action.

"The suggestion that any way shape or form that Australia, accounting for 1.3 per cent of the world's emissions... are impacting directly on specific fire events, whether it is here or anywhere else in the world, that doesn't bear up to credible scientific evidence," he told ABC radio.

Scientists, former fire chiefs and residents touched by bushfires have all drawn the link between this season's more intense fires and climate change.

Drought, unseasonably hot, dry and windy conditions have fuelled the unprecedented blazes. Scientists believe many of those factors are made worse by rising global temperatures.

On Thursday bushfires burned across every region of Australia with residents in Victoria warned to leave high-risk areas and officials in New South Wales reporting more than 600 homes have been destroyed in recent weeks.

Morrison is facing calls to cut greenhouse gas emissions and rapidly transition to renewable energy -- a sensitive debate in light of Australia's lucrative mining industry.

Australia has committed to globally agreed climate targets to help limit warming, but its emissions continue to rise and targets are only being met with the use of some creative carbon accounting,&nbsp;using credits gained in past decades.

While Australia's burning of fossil fuels accounts for only a fraction of global emissions, coal dug up Down Under and burned around the world makes the country a major emissions exporter.

Watch: Hazardous layer of bushfire smoke covers Sydney

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-hazardous-thick-layer-of-bushfire-smoke-covered-sydney-263107/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

'Code red'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?q=Sydney%3A+People+asked+to+stay+indoors+as+hazardous+smog+from+bushfires+eclipses+city">Devastating fires along the country's</a> east coast have claimed six lives since mid-October.

Now the fire danger has moved into states further south, with more than 60 fires breaking out in Victoria on Thursday,&nbsp;including five at "emergency" level,&nbsp;after a so-called "Code Red" fire danger was declared for the first time in a decade.

Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said firefighters were batting "some of the worst conditions that you'd expect to see, often in February or March, and we're seeing them in November".

"It is incredibly dry, it will continue to get drier as the months go on over this summer, so the conditions we see today are likely conditions that we'll confront over this summer," she said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said "large areas" of central and eastern Victoria broke maximum temperature records for November,&nbsp;including in Melbourne where the mercury reached 40.9 Celsius, while a dramatic dust storm swept through the town of Mildura, turning the sky a vivid orange.

Country Fire Authority chief Steve Warrington earlier told people living in high-risk rural areas to leave for the safety of cities.

"We are saying, 'do not be there, do not be there when a fire occurs, because you will not survive if you are there'," he said.

The fire danger was also elevated to "extreme" in the island state of Tasmania off mainland Australia's southeastern coast, one of several areas where a total fire ban was declared.

For the second time in three days, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-braces-for-heavy-winds-lightning-as-bushfire-threat-lingers-262193">smoke from bushfires blanketed Sydney</a>, Australia's biggest city and an area that is home to more than five million people, sending air quality plummeting to hazardous levels.

In South Australia, the state capital Adelaide was also shrouded in bushfire smoke and residents were being told to stay indoors for health reasons.

More than 110 fires are still burning in worst-hit New South Wales and neighbouring Queensland, while in South Australia&nbsp;more than 40 fires broke out during catastrophic fire conditions Wednesday.&nbsp;

The country is bracing for challenging fire conditions to continue throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer.

Australia's Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming.

Australia's Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming. As dozens of new blazes scorched the countryside and the country's largest city was cloaked in hazardous smoke, conservative leader Scott Morrison defended his climate record, saying Australia was "doing our bit". His comments came after weeks spent refusing to speak about the link between climate change and deadly fires described by the emergency services as unprecedented in number and scale for the early bushfire season. As more people in the southeast of the country were told to evacuate their homes and schoolchildren in Sydney were again forced to play indoors, Morrison dismissed mounting calls for action. "The suggestion that any way shape or form that Australia, accounting for 1.3 per cent of the world's emissions... are impacting directly on specific fire events, whether it is here or anywhere else in the world, that doesn't bear up to credible scientific evidence," he told ABC radio. Scientists, former fire chiefs and residents touched by bushfires have all drawn the link between this season's more intense fires and climate change. Drought, unseasonably hot, dry and windy conditions have fuelled the unprecedented blazes. Scientists believe many of those factors are made worse by rising global temperatures. On Thursday bushfires burned across every region of Australia with residents in Victoria warned to leave high-risk areas and officials in New South Wales reporting more than 600 homes have been destroyed in recent weeks. Morrison is facing calls to cut greenhouse gas emissions and rapidly transition to renewable energy -- a sensitive debate in light of Australia's lucrative mining industry. Australia has committed to globally agreed climate targets to help limit warming, but its emissions continue to rise and targets are only being met with the use of some creative carbon accounting, using credits gained in past decades. While Australia's burning of fossil fuels accounts for only a fraction of global emissions, coal dug up Down Under and burned around the world makes the country a major emissions exporter. Watch: Hazardous layer of bushfire smoke covers Sydney 'Code red' Devastating fires along the country's east coast have claimed six lives since mid-October. Now the fire danger has moved into states further south, with more than 60 fires breaking out in Victoria on Thursday, including five at "emergency" level, after a so-called "Code Red" fire danger was declared for the first time in a decade. Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said firefighters were batting "some of the worst conditions that you'd expect to see, often in February or March, and we're seeing them in November". "It is incredibly dry, it will continue to get drier as the months go on over this summer, so the conditions we see today are likely conditions that we'll confront over this summer," she said. The Bureau of Meteorology said "large areas" of central and eastern Victoria broke maximum temperature records for November, including in Melbourne where the mercury reached 40.9 Celsius, while a dramatic dust storm swept through the town of Mildura, turning the sky a vivid orange. Country Fire Authority chief Steve Warrington earlier told people living in high-risk rural areas to leave for the safety of cities. "We are saying, 'do not be there, do not be there when a fire occurs, because you will not survive if you are there'," he said. The fire danger was also elevated to "extreme" in the island state of Tasmania off mainland Australia's southeastern coast, one of several areas where a total fire ban was declared. For the second time in three days, smoke from bushfires blanketed Sydney, Australia's biggest city and an area that is home to more than five million people, sending air quality plummeting to hazardous levels. In South Australia, the state capital Adelaide was also shrouded in bushfire smoke and residents were being told to stay indoors for health reasons. More than 110 fires are still burning in worst-hit New South Wales and neighbouring Queensland, while in South Australia more than 40 fires broke out during catastrophic fire conditions Wednesday. The country is bracing for challenging fire conditions to continue throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer.

As bushfires rage and choke Sydney, Australian PM denies link to climate policies

An Australian national has been accused of intentionally lighting a fire which led to out-of-control <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lack-of-forecast-rains-to-prolong-australian-bushfires-threat-261992">bushfires </a>in order to protect his cannabis crop.&nbsp;

The police in Australia charged a 51-year-old man, who appeared before a court on Saturday, for deliberately setting fire at Ebor in New South Wales. The fire in Ebor is about 10,000 hectares in size and is still burning even after three days.&nbsp;

The accused made a bungled attempt allegedly at backburning which intensified the fires and he didn't take any action to extinguish the flames, according to the police. Backburning is a practice in which firefighters try to clear the undergrowth that fuels the fire.&nbsp;

Authorities blame arsonists for several bushfires across badly-hit New South Wales and Queensland and appealed the residents to give information regarding this which will lead to more arrests. &nbsp;

So far, four people have been killed, more than 300 homes destroyed and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stay-alert-millions-of-australians-brace-for-catastrophic-bushfires-261487">millions are being affected </a>because of the hazardous smoke spread by the massive bushfires. More than one million hectares of land has been razed in over a week.&nbsp;

There were 130 fires that were burning in the two Australian states on Saturday, damaging large swathes of the area which has already been ravaged by a drought.&nbsp;

On Saturday, the uncontrolled bushfires led to demands in Australia asking the country's conservative government to do more to tackle climate change. &nbsp;

Firemen in New South Wales undertook backburning as temperatures dipped on Saturday night. The fires in New South Wales are expected to deteriorate early next week.&nbsp;

Parts of Queensland are facing the risk of an extreme situation as the forecast of high temperatures, low humidity combined with storms will make life difficult for firefighters to control the fires.

Australia is prone to bushfires and scientists believe that the reason behind the fires early this season is because of climate change which is leading to a rise in temperatures and sapping of moisture from the environment.

The Australian government has ignored growing calls of limiting the use of fossil fuels, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and is eager to protect the highly lucrative mining industry.

(with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

An Australian national has been accused of intentionally lighting a fire which led to out-of-control bushfires in order to protect his cannabis crop. The police in Australia charged a 51-year-old man, who appeared before a court on Saturday, for deliberately setting fire at Ebor in New South Wales.

An Australian national has been accused of intentionally lighting a fire which led to out-of-control bushfires in order to protect his cannabis crop. The police in Australia charged a 51-year-old man, who appeared before a court on Saturday, for deliberately setting fire at Ebor in New South Wales. The fire in Ebor is about 10,000 hectares in size and is still burning even after three days. The accused made a bungled attempt allegedly at backburning which intensified the fires and he didn't take any action to extinguish the flames, according to the police. Backburning is a practice in which firefighters try to clear the undergrowth that fuels the fire. Authorities blame arsonists for several bushfires across badly-hit New South Wales and Queensland and appealed the residents to give information regarding this which will lead to more arrests. So far, four people have been killed, more than 300 homes destroyed and millions are being affected because of the hazardous smoke spread by the massive bushfires. More than one million hectares of land has been razed in over a week. There were 130 fires that were burning in the two Australian states on Saturday, damaging large swathes of the area which has already been ravaged by a drought. On Saturday, the uncontrolled bushfires led to demands in Australia asking the country's conservative government to do more to tackle climate change. Firemen in New South Wales undertook backburning as temperatures dipped on Saturday night. The fires in New South Wales are expected to deteriorate early next week. Parts of Queensland are facing the risk of an extreme situation as the forecast of high temperatures, low humidity combined with storms will make life difficult for firefighters to control the fires. Australia is prone to bushfires and scientists believe that the reason behind the fires early this season is because of climate change which is leading to a rise in temperatures and sapping of moisture from the environment. The Australian government has ignored growing calls of limiting the use of fossil fuels, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and is eager to protect the highly lucrative mining industry. (with inputs from AFP)

Australian man accused of starting bushfires to protect his cannabis crop

Australia braced on Friday for strong winds that could whip up bushfires in two states over the weekend and add to a toll of more than 270 homes destroyed and 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of land ravaged during the past week.

The country's weather bureau warned that winds and lightning strikes increase the threat to communities across two states on the country's east coast, which have been ravaged by fire since last Friday.

"A fresh burst of hot, dry westerly winds will result in severe fire dangers in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt," the Bureau of Meteorology flagged for the border region between the states of Queensland and New South Wales.

It added that thunderstorms were possible over the northern part of that region, "bringing the risk of lightning as an ignition source for new fires."

In New South Wales, 259 homes have been destroyed over the past week and 59 bush or grass fires are still burning, but none are rated at the "catastrophic" warning level-triggered earlier in the week, the state's Rural Fire Service said.

In Queensland, where 16 homes have been destroyed since November&nbsp;7, 59 fires are still burning.

The bushfire season has begun earlier than usual, in the southern hemisphere spring, and is expected to be long and brutal this year as a three-year drought has left broad swathes of Australia's east and west more susceptible to fire.

Looking to avert fatigue among firefighters, Western Australia has sent teams out to relieve tired crews on the east coast, and New Zealand has also sent up reinforcements.

"We're doing what we can for our fellow Aussies while still maintaining resources on the home front, which have been much needed in the past few days," the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services said on social media.

Australia braced on Friday for strong winds that could whip up bushfires in two states over the weekend and add to a toll of more than 270 homes destroyed and 2.

Australia braced on Friday for strong winds that could whip up bushfires in two states over the weekend and add to a toll of more than 270 homes destroyed and 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of land ravaged during the past week. The country's weather bureau warned that winds and lightning strikes increase the threat to communities across two states on the country's east coast, which have been ravaged by fire since last Friday. "A fresh burst of hot, dry westerly winds will result in severe fire dangers in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt," the Bureau of Meteorology flagged for the border region between the states of Queensland and New South Wales. It added that thunderstorms were possible over the northern part of that region, "bringing the risk of lightning as an ignition source for new fires." In New South Wales, 259 homes have been destroyed over the past week and 59 bush or grass fires are still burning, but none are rated at the "catastrophic" warning level-triggered earlier in the week, the state's Rural Fire Service said. In Queensland, where 16 homes have been destroyed since November 7, 59 fires are still burning. The bushfire season has begun earlier than usual, in the southern hemisphere spring, and is expected to be long and brutal this year as a three-year drought has left broad swathes of Australia's east and west more susceptible to fire. Looking to avert fatigue among firefighters, Western Australia has sent teams out to relieve tired crews on the east coast, and New Zealand has also sent up reinforcements. "We're doing what we can for our fellow Aussies while still maintaining resources on the home front, which have been much needed in the past few days," the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services said on social media.

Australia braces for heavy winds, lightning as bushfire threat lingers

Official weather forecasts for Australia out on Thursday showed no substantial rains for at least three months, providing grim news as firefighters battle to get more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australians-shelter-and-flee-as-firefighters-battle-150-bushfires-261748">100 bushfires</a> raging across the east coast under control.

Wildfires in New South Wales and Queensland states have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deadly-australian-bushfires-haze-sydney-261641">killed four people</a>, destroyed hundreds of homes and wiped out 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of farmland and bush over the past week.

The fires have been fuelled by tinder-dry conditions after three years of drought that experts say has been exacerbated by climate change, a factor that has sparked a sharp political debate in recent days.

Firefighters have said the blazes will burn for weeks without significant rainfall.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said there is just a 25 per cent&nbsp;chance that the country's east coast will receive average rainfall between December&nbsp;1 and February&nbsp;28.

Stoking the threat, BOM said there is more than 80 per cent&nbsp;chance that temperatures will exceed average levels over the next three months.

More immediately, Rural Fire Service NSW deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said fatigued firefighters face another challenging few days.

"Conditions are starting to warm up tomorrow, into the weekend and then heating up early next week, a return to more gusty conditions. We’re in for the long haul,” Rogers told Australia's Channel 7.

The death toll from the fires rose to four on Thursday after police reported the body of a man was discovered in NSW bushland that had been ravaged by fire.

Bushfires are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires in the southern spring this year has caught many by surprise and stoked an increasingly acrimonious political debate about climate change.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly batted away questions on that issue during the current crisis, drawing criticism from climate activists and opposition lawmakers.

A group of former fire chiefs on Thursday said the government's refusal to discuss climate change issues were impeding preparations for large-scale fires.

Greg Mullins, a former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner, said he and 23 other fire and emergency chiefs had been trying to have a meeting with Morrison since April because they "knew that a bushfire crisis was coming."

Instead, he said current fire chiefs had been locked out of discussions and were "not allowed" to mention climate change.

"This government fundamentally doesn’t like talking about climate change," Mullins told reporters in Sydney.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said earlier in the week that linking the fires to the government's support of the coal industry was "the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital city greenies".

Official weather forecasts for Australia out on Thursday showed no substantial rains for at least three months, providing grim news as firefighters battle to get more than 100 bushfires raging across the east coast under control.

Official weather forecasts for Australia out on Thursday showed no substantial rains for at least three months, providing grim news as firefighters battle to get more than 100 bushfires raging across the east coast under control. Wildfires in New South Wales and Queensland states have killed four people, destroyed hundreds of homes and wiped out 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of farmland and bush over the past week. The fires have been fuelled by tinder-dry conditions after three years of drought that experts say has been exacerbated by climate change, a factor that has sparked a sharp political debate in recent days. Firefighters have said the blazes will burn for weeks without significant rainfall. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said there is just a 25 per cent chance that the country's east coast will receive average rainfall between December 1 and February 28. Stoking the threat, BOM said there is more than 80 per cent chance that temperatures will exceed average levels over the next three months. More immediately, Rural Fire Service NSW deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said fatigued firefighters face another challenging few days. "Conditions are starting to warm up tomorrow, into the weekend and then heating up early next week, a return to more gusty conditions. We’re in for the long haul,” Rogers told Australia's Channel 7. The death toll from the fires rose to four on Thursday after police reported the body of a man was discovered in NSW bushland that had been ravaged by fire. Bushfires are common in Australia's hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires in the southern spring this year has caught many by surprise and stoked an increasingly acrimonious political debate about climate change. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly batted away questions on that issue during the current crisis, drawing criticism from climate activists and opposition lawmakers. A group of former fire chiefs on Thursday said the government's refusal to discuss climate change issues were impeding preparations for large-scale fires. Greg Mullins, a former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner, said he and 23 other fire and emergency chiefs had been trying to have a meeting with Morrison since April because they "knew that a bushfire crisis was coming." Instead, he said current fire chiefs had been locked out of discussions and were "not allowed" to mention climate change. "This government fundamentally doesn’t like talking about climate change," Mullins told reporters in Sydney. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said earlier in the week that linking the fires to the government's support of the coal industry was "the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital city greenies".

Lack of forecast rains to prolong Australian bushfires threat

Deadly Australian bushfires haze Sydney

Catastrophic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-people-found-dead-and-100-homes-destroyed-in-australian-bushfires-260923">bushfires in eastern Australia</a> have killed at least three people and forced thousands from their homes, with the death toll expected to rise as firefighters struggle towards hard-to-reach communities.

In the normally picturesque coastal town of Forster,&nbsp;one among dozens hit along the eastern seaboard,&nbsp;vast plumes of smoke shot out from multiple blazes as water bombers swooped in overhead.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that, if needed, the military could be called on to help some 1,300 firefighters who are tackling around 100 separate blazes.

Several people are still unaccounted for and 30 more have been injured,&nbsp;mostly firefighters working for hours on end in smoky, smouldering scrubland and blazing forests of towering eucalyptus.

"My only thoughts today are with&nbsp;those who have lost their lives and&nbsp;their families," Morrison said, as hundreds of civilians also volunteered to help their hard-hit neighbours.

A body was found in a burnt-out building near the east-coast town of Taree, police said, while another victim was found in a car and a woman died despite medics trying for several hours to save her.

As hot and windy weather eased slightly on Saturday, the number of most serious fires fell to just a handful from an unprecedented 17 on Friday.

But within an area spanning almost 1,000 kilometres, schools were burned and at least 150 homes were destroyed, while authorities were forced to evacuate detention centres and old people's homes.

It was a narrow escape for&nbsp;Don&nbsp;Russell, with the fire coming within meters of his home in Taree.

"They've done a top job them fellas,"&nbsp;Russell told AFP after a crew of six firefighters brought the blaze under control.

His next-door neighbours were not so lucky, however,&nbsp;their home&nbsp;went&nbsp;up in flames Saturday afternoon. No one was home.

"It used to be God's country, but it ain't anymore," said another neighbour, 72-year-old&nbsp;Dave Scott.

New South Wales's rural fire service said an emergency warning was in place for four fires among the dozens raging across the state.

Tinderbox

Bushfires are common in Australia and a vast corps of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uncharted-territory-as-bushfires-rage-across-australias-east-260711">firefighters</a> had already been tackling sporadic blazes for months in the lead-up to the southern hemisphere summer.

But this was a dramatic start to what scientists predict will be a tough fire season, with climate change and weather cycles contributing to the dangerous combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions.

"We're experiencing tinderbox-like conditions across much of the state and all it takes is one spark to start a fire that may burn for days," said Queensland's acting fire commissioner Mike Wassing.

Queensland declared a "fire emergency" on Saturday and banned the lighting of all outdoor fires.

Meanwhile New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that next week's weather forecast "could mean we're not through the worst of it".

Morrison, whose government has played down the threat of climate change, sought to deflect questions about what impact it may have had.

"Australia has&nbsp;been battling ferocious fires for as&nbsp;long as Australia has been a nation,&nbsp;and well before. And we will&nbsp;continue to do so," he said.

'Too late to leave'

Firefighters had described the conditions Friday as "difficult" and "dangerous". In some areas, residents were stuck and told to simply "seek shelter as it is too late to leave".

Local radio stopped normal programming and provided instructions about how to try to survive fires if trapped at home or in a vehicle.

Across the central coast, smoke billowed high into the sky and residents posted images online of tangerine skies and storey-high trees ablaze.

Authorities said some of the fires were creating their own weather conditions,&nbsp;pyrocumulus clouds that enveloped entire towns.

Despite easing conditions, prolonged drought and high aridity levels will continue to make circumstances combustible.

Earlier this month, some of the same fires cloaked Sydney in hazardous smoke for days.&nbsp;On Saturday it was Brisbane's turn, with the fires enveloping the city centre in a veil of acrid fog.

Swathes of Australia have gone months without adequate rainfall, forcing farmers to truck in water, sell off livestock or leave their land to lie fallow.

Jim McLennan of La Trobe University said the bushfires were "unprecedented", coming so early in the season and in areas that usually have moist soils and vegetation.

"However, the fire situation is consistent with our new world of bushfire threat associated with climate change".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/extensive-evacuation-underway-as-bushfires-rage-in-australia-260878">In pictures:&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/extensive-evacuation-underway-as-bushfires-rage-in-australia-260878" hreflang="en">Extensive evacuation underway as bushfires rage in Australia</a>

Catastrophic bushfires in eastern Australia have killed at least three people and forced thousands from their homes, with the death toll expected to rise as firefighters struggle towards hard-to-reach communities.

Catastrophic bushfires in eastern Australia have killed at least three people and forced thousands from their homes, with the death toll expected to rise as firefighters struggle towards hard-to-reach communities. In the normally picturesque coastal town of Forster, one among dozens hit along the eastern seaboard, vast plumes of smoke shot out from multiple blazes as water bombers swooped in overhead. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that, if needed, the military could be called on to help some 1,300 firefighters who are tackling around 100 separate blazes. Several people are still unaccounted for and 30 more have been injured, mostly firefighters working for hours on end in smoky, smouldering scrubland and blazing forests of towering eucalyptus. "My only thoughts today are with those who have lost their lives and their families," Morrison said, as hundreds of civilians also volunteered to help their hard-hit neighbours. A body was found in a burnt-out building near the east-coast town of Taree, police said, while another victim was found in a car and a woman died despite medics trying for several hours to save her. As hot and windy weather eased slightly on Saturday, the number of most serious fires fell to just a handful from an unprecedented 17 on Friday. But within an area spanning almost 1,000 kilometres, schools were burned and at least 150 homes were destroyed, while authorities were forced to evacuate detention centres and old people's homes. It was a narrow escape for Don Russell, with the fire coming within meters of his home in Taree. "They've done a top job them fellas," Russell told AFP after a crew of six firefighters brought the blaze under control. His next-door neighbours were not so lucky, however, their home went up in flames Saturday afternoon. No one was home. "It used to be God's country, but it ain't anymore," said another neighbour, 72-year-old Dave Scott. New South Wales's rural fire service said an emergency warning was in place for four fires among the dozens raging across the state. Tinderbox Bushfires are common in Australia and a vast corps of firefighters had already been tackling sporadic blazes for months in the lead-up to the southern hemisphere summer. But this was a dramatic start to what scientists predict will be a tough fire season, with climate change and weather cycles contributing to the dangerous combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions. "We're experiencing tinderbox-like conditions across much of the state and all it takes is one spark to start a fire that may burn for days," said Queensland's acting fire commissioner Mike Wassing. Queensland declared a "fire emergency" on Saturday and banned the lighting of all outdoor fires. Meanwhile New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that next week's weather forecast "could mean we're not through the worst of it". Morrison, whose government has played down the threat of climate change, sought to deflect questions about what impact it may have had. "Australia has been battling ferocious fires for as long as Australia has been a nation, and well before. And we will continue to do so," he said. 'Too late to leave' Firefighters had described the conditions Friday as "difficult" and "dangerous". In some areas, residents were stuck and told to simply "seek shelter as it is too late to leave". Local radio stopped normal programming and provided instructions about how to try to survive fires if trapped at home or in a vehicle. Across the central coast, smoke billowed high into the sky and residents posted images online of tangerine skies and storey-high trees ablaze. Authorities said some of the fires were creating their own weather conditions, pyrocumulus clouds that enveloped entire towns. Despite easing conditions, prolonged drought and high aridity levels will continue to make circumstances combustible. Earlier this month, some of the same fires cloaked Sydney in hazardous smoke for days. On Saturday it was Brisbane's turn, with the fires enveloping the city centre in a veil of acrid fog. Swathes of Australia have gone months without adequate rainfall, forcing farmers to truck in water, sell off livestock or leave their land to lie fallow. Jim McLennan of La Trobe University said the bushfires were "unprecedented", coming so early in the season and in areas that usually have moist soils and vegetation. "However, the fire situation is consistent with our new world of bushfire threat associated with climate change". In pictures: Extensive evacuation underway as bushfires rage in Australia

Australia bushfires leave three dead, at least 150 homes lost

Bushfires burning across the Australian state of Victoria for a week have destroyed more than 30 houses and burnt nearly 70 other buildings with most of the blazes still active, the emergency authorities said on Saturday.

No deaths or injuries have been reported in the fires.

A record-breaking heatwave delivered the hottest start to March on record for the southern third of Australia, a country prone to deadly bushfires as a result of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and flammable eucalyptus bush.

The Insurance Council of Australia declared late on Friday the Bunyip State Park fire, Victoria's highest-risk blaze burning east of Melbourne, a catastrophe, which gives policy-holders priority by insurers.

"It is too early to place an estimate on losses so far, and the full extent of property losses may take several weeks to be known," the Council cited its General Manager of Communications Campbell Fuller as saying in a press release.

In addition to the 29 houses that were destroyed in that fire, two houses were damaged but deemed habitable. Two homes were destroyed elsewhere in the state in other fires.

More than 100,000 hectares of land had been burnt by bushfires across Victoria since the start of March, a spokeswoman for the Emergency Management Victoria said.

Milder weather conditions over the weekend were expected to aid firefighters who are still battling some 17 fires throughout the state.

In 2009, the worst bushfires on record destroyed thousands of homes in Victoria, killing 173 people and injuring 414 on a day the media dubbed "Black Saturday".

Bushfires burning across the Australian state of Victoria for a week have destroyed more than 30 houses and burnt nearly 70 other buildings with most of the blazes still active, the emergency authorities said on Saturday.

Bushfires burning across the Australian state of Victoria for a week have destroyed more than 30 houses and burnt nearly 70 other buildings with most of the blazes still active, the emergency authorities said on Saturday. No deaths or injuries have been reported in the fires. A record-breaking heatwave delivered the hottest start to March on record for the southern third of Australia, a country prone to deadly bushfires as a result of remote terrain, high summer temperatures and flammable eucalyptus bush. The Insurance Council of Australia declared late on Friday the Bunyip State Park fire, Victoria's highest-risk blaze burning east of Melbourne, a catastrophe, which gives policy-holders priority by insurers. "It is too early to place an estimate on losses so far, and the full extent of property losses may take several weeks to be known," the Council cited its General Manager of Communications Campbell Fuller as saying in a press release. In addition to the 29 houses that were destroyed in that fire, two houses were damaged but deemed habitable. Two homes were destroyed elsewhere in the state in other fires. More than 100,000 hectares of land had been burnt by bushfires across Victoria since the start of March, a spokeswoman for the Emergency Management Victoria said. Milder weather conditions over the weekend were expected to aid firefighters who are still battling some 17 fires throughout the state. In 2009, the worst bushfires on record destroyed thousands of homes in Victoria, killing 173 people and injuring 414 on a day the media dubbed "Black Saturday".

Bushfires destroy more than 30 houses in Australia's Victoria state

Wildfires burned in parts of Australia`s densely-populated southeast on Saturday, although weather officials expected falling temperatures to bring relief for Sydney by early afternoon.

One fire in eastern Victoria, the second most populous state, prompted fire authorities to issue a watch and act warning for residents in 14 different towns.&nbsp;

The fire near Rosedale, about 200 km (124 miles) east of Melbourne, had burnt more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) and sudden wind changes on Friday created risky conditions for roughly 40 firefighters, an emergency official said.

"They found themselves in a very serious situation and they were shaken," Andrew Crisp, the state`s emergency management commissioner, told reporters on Saturday.&nbsp;

The origin of the Rosedale fire and another in Victoria were being treated as suspicious, with police and fire authorities investigating their cause, he added.

In the southern island state of Tasmania, a bushfire had burnt through 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of southwestern wilderness by Saturday, fire officials said.

Both Victoria and Tasmania had sweltered through above average temperatures on Friday, with Melbourne recording a near-record 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 F) and Hobart reaching 40 C (104 F).

But both states will see far cooler temperatures over the weekend, following a rapid cool change on Friday, weather officials said.

"At 4.00 p.m., (Melbourne) was at 42 degrees, by 4.20 p.m. it was down to 26 degrees, and then continued to drop after that," Keris Arndt, a meteorologist with the weather bureau, told Reuters.&nbsp;

Yet by Saturday morning the cooling temperatures had not reached parts of Sydney, Australia`s most populous city, where the mercury reached almost 38 C (100.4 F) by midday.

A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster told Reuters the weather pattern that brought temperature drops to Melbourne and Tasmania was expected to reach Sydney by afternoon.

Wildfires burned in parts of Australia`s densely-populated southeast on Saturday, although weather officials expected falling temperatures to bring relief for Sydney by early afternoon.

Wildfires burned in parts of Australia`s densely-populated southeast on Saturday, although weather officials expected falling temperatures to bring relief for Sydney by early afternoon. One fire in eastern Victoria, the second most populous state, prompted fire authorities to issue a watch and act warning for residents in 14 different towns. The fire near Rosedale, about 200 km (124 miles) east of Melbourne, had burnt more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) and sudden wind changes on Friday created risky conditions for roughly 40 firefighters, an emergency official said. "They found themselves in a very serious situation and they were shaken," Andrew Crisp, the state`s emergency management commissioner, told reporters on Saturday. The origin of the Rosedale fire and another in Victoria were being treated as suspicious, with police and fire authorities investigating their cause, he added. In the southern island state of Tasmania, a bushfire had burnt through 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of southwestern wilderness by Saturday, fire officials said. Both Victoria and Tasmania had sweltered through above average temperatures on Friday, with Melbourne recording a near-record 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 F) and Hobart reaching 40 C (104 F). But both states will see far cooler temperatures over the weekend, following a rapid cool change on Friday, weather officials said. "At 4.00 p.m., (Melbourne) was at 42 degrees, by 4.20 p.m. it was down to 26 degrees, and then continued to drop after that," Keris Arndt, a meteorologist with the weather bureau, told Reuters. Yet by Saturday morning the cooling temperatures had not reached parts of Sydney, Australia`s most populous city, where the mercury reached almost 38 C (100.4 F) by midday. A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster told Reuters the weather pattern that brought temperature drops to Melbourne and Tasmania was expected to reach Sydney by afternoon.

Bushfires rage in Australia's southeast but Sydney temperatures could drop

'Unprecedented weather' in the Australian state of Queensland said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, sparked 40 bushfires across the state on Monday, as emergency services tried to put containment lines around the fire zones.

"As we know there has been unprecedented weather in Queensland at the moment and this entire week we are going to see heat wave conditions right across Queensland. Around Rockhampton there has been averages the likes of which we have never seen in Queensland before. And these conditions are worse than what we saw in 2009 in Queensland. There are currently 40 wildfires that are happening right across Queensland as we speak."

Palaszczuk added that conditions were worse than those of 2009, when fire burnt through more than 11,500 hectares of bushland, and this entire week would see heatwave conditions across the state.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfires were being fanned by a combination of the temperature, the low humidity and the variable winds.

Two homes were lost near the Bundaberg region as authorities tried to evacuate residents.

'Unprecedented weather' in the Australian state of Queensland said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, sparked 40 bushfires across the state on Monday, as emergency services tried to put containment lines around the fire zones.

'Unprecedented weather' in the Australian state of Queensland said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, sparked 40 bushfires across the state on Monday, as emergency services tried to put containment lines around the fire zones. "As we know there has been unprecedented weather in Queensland at the moment and this entire week we are going to see heat wave conditions right across Queensland. Around Rockhampton there has been averages the likes of which we have never seen in Queensland before. And these conditions are worse than what we saw in 2009 in Queensland. There are currently 40 wildfires that are happening right across Queensland as we speak." Palaszczuk added that conditions were worse than those of 2009, when fire burnt through more than 11,500 hectares of bushland, and this entire week would see heatwave conditions across the state. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfires were being fanned by a combination of the temperature, the low humidity and the variable winds. Two homes were lost near the Bundaberg region as authorities tried to evacuate residents.

Video: 'Unprecedented weather' in Australia's Queensland causes bushfires

'Unprecedented weather' in Australia's Queensland causes bushfires

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