News

Australian fire crews were fighting blazes across the state of New South Wales on Saturday after record-breaking hot temperatures, storms and wild winds on Friday sparked and fuelled a series of bushfires.

A total fire ban was imposed statewide as fires burned in the remote Blue Mountains, the Hawksbury region and the state''s northeast.

Remote area firefighting crews were deployed to a two hectare fire in the region.

Water bombing aircrafts worked throughout the day.

The extreme conditions forced the closure of the Blue Mountains National Park, which will remain shut until further notice.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees warned Australians to be extremely cautious.

"The high risk part of the season is upon us already and that''s why we call for maximum vigilance. We are better prepared than ever before but we have to be more vigilant than ever before and apply some common sense and make sure that we''re not indulging in risky behaviour" Rees told Australian reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

Firefighters continued to fight the flames in the state''s north, supported by aircraft strengthening containment lines, the RFS said.

There was no direct threat to properties from the fires, the RFS said, although residents were advised to stay up to date with the situation.

Firefighters were bracing for worsening conditions on Sunday.

Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) across Sydney accompanied by strong winds.

Elsewhere, South Australia was enjoying wet weather on Saturday after coming close to a bushfire disaster during the week.

Record temperatures and 25,000 lightning strikes caused more than 100 fires in the last three days.

On Friday, firefighters were still struggling to put out fierce bushfires in the State of Tasmania.

Tasmanian Fire Services were trying to save properties and extinguish bushfires along the state roads, after a powerful fire destroyed at least three homes and left nine others damaged, authorities said.

The fire burnt throughout the night at Dolphin Sands on Tasmania''s east coast.

Local residents stood by their vehicles on the main roads and awaited instructions from authorities on Friday.

The fire burnt through 100 hectares and by Saturday was within containment lines but fire crews were still monitoring the strong winds in the region.