Aussie Bushfire Season Well Underway - "We Don't Expect These Fires To Go Out" - Reuters

[hatrack]

CANBERRA - Australian firefighters fear dozens of bushfires in remote mountains in the southeast could join up to form major fire-fronts, driven by hot weather in the drought-plagued region.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters battled more than 50 blazes in rugged, inaccessible mountains of Victoria state as temperatures rose above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit). "We are headed for probably the worst fire summer period we have ever had in Victoria. We don't expect these fires to go out," state Premier Steve Bracks told local newspapers.

Tourists were urged not to visit the popular Victorian Alps, where blazes have already destroyed more than 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of bushland. As authorities moved to scramble more heavy water-bombing helicopters, firefighters said strong winds and high temperatures over coming days could fan the fronts and push fires more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from current positions. "It's expected in the next couple of days some of these fires will join together and form larger fires," environment department spokesman Kevin Monk said.

Firefighters say Australia faces an extreme fire danger this summer after a worsening drought left rural areas bone dry. Scientists fear climate change will bring more frequent higher temperatures and less rainfall to parts of Australia. In neighbouring New South Wales, fire crews were fighting blazes threatening to wipe out one of the last remaining outposts of healthy koalas.

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http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39343/story.htm