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| Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C | Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state. | Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state. |
| The most dangerous fires on Monday were in the state of Victoria. | The most dangerous fires on Monday were in the state of Victoria. |
| About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads. | About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads. |
| A volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in the state of New South Wales. | A volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in the state of New South Wales. |
| The state's premier, Gladys Berejiklian, described the death as "heartbreaking". | The state's premier, Gladys Berejiklian, described the death as "heartbreaking". |
| "Words fail at times like this," she wrote on Twitter. Two others were taken to hospital with burns after battling the blaze, east of the city of Albury. It is believed their truck rolled over after being hit by extreme winds. | |
| In total, 10 people have died in the nation's bushfire crisis since September. | In total, 10 people have died in the nation's bushfire crisis since September. |
| Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. | Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. |
| How bad are the blazes in Victoria? | How bad are the blazes in Victoria? |
| Scorching temperatures, strong winds, and thunderstorms created dangerous conditions in Victoria on Monday. | Scorching temperatures, strong winds, and thunderstorms created dangerous conditions in Victoria on Monday. |
| In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs. | In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs. |
| Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted. | Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted. |
| "We have had a challenging day in Victoria," said Andrew Crispin, the state's emergency management commissioner. | "We have had a challenging day in Victoria," said Andrew Crispin, the state's emergency management commissioner. |
| He said the huge blazes had produced their own weather systems from smoke columns "punching into the atmosphere 14km high". | He said the huge blazes had produced their own weather systems from smoke columns "punching into the atmosphere 14km high". |
| "There's lightning coming out of these columns. It is unpredictable [and] it's dangerous out there," he said. | "There's lightning coming out of these columns. It is unpredictable [and] it's dangerous out there," he said. |
| Similar fire-generated thunderstorms - or pyrocumulonimbus - were also recorded in New South Wales (NSW). | Similar fire-generated thunderstorms - or pyrocumulonimbus - were also recorded in New South Wales (NSW). |
| Lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes. | Lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes. |
| Dry lightning sparked at least 70 new fires in the region in the past 24 hours, officials said. | Dry lightning sparked at least 70 new fires in the region in the past 24 hours, officials said. |
| A 250km (155-mile) stretch of the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale was closed on Monday. | A 250km (155-mile) stretch of the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale was closed on Monday. |
| On Sunday, Mr Crispin urged people in the region - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - to "get out", but confirmed on Monday that many people had remained in the region. | On Sunday, Mr Crispin urged people in the region - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - to "get out", but confirmed on Monday that many people had remained in the region. |
| Elsewhere in the state, a major New Year's Eve music festival has been cancelled after organisers said the bushfire threat was too dangerous. | Elsewhere in the state, a major New Year's Eve music festival has been cancelled after organisers said the bushfire threat was too dangerous. |
| Some 9,000 people had already been camping at the Falls Festival in Lorne. Access is by a single track, meaning it would not be possible for festival-goers to evacuate quickly. | Some 9,000 people had already been camping at the Falls Festival in Lorne. Access is by a single track, meaning it would not be possible for festival-goers to evacuate quickly. |
| "We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou. | "We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou. |
| What about the other states? | What about the other states? |
| In South Australia, crews battled "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of Adelaide. | In South Australia, crews battled "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of Adelaide. |
| The island state of Tasmania also struggled to contain bushfires amid a sweltering heatwave. | The island state of Tasmania also struggled to contain bushfires amid a sweltering heatwave. |
| Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday. | Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday. |
| More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year. | More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year. |
| Temperatures exceeded 41C in parts of the state, including in Sydney, Australia's largest city. | Temperatures exceeded 41C in parts of the state, including in Sydney, Australia's largest city. |
| Officials have warned that "deteriorating weather conditions" could worsen bushfires in the state on Tuesday. | Officials have warned that "deteriorating weather conditions" could worsen bushfires in the state on Tuesday. |
| The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December amid similar conditions. | The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December amid similar conditions. |
| Will New Year's Eve fireworks go ahead? | Will New Year's Eve fireworks go ahead? |
| With total fire ban restrictions in place, several regions have cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks including the Australian Capital Territory, where the nation's capital city Canberra is located. | With total fire ban restrictions in place, several regions have cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks including the Australian Capital Territory, where the nation's capital city Canberra is located. |
| However in Sydney, authorities say the city's harbour fireworks display - watched by millions around the world - will go ahead despite criticism. | However in Sydney, authorities say the city's harbour fireworks display - watched by millions around the world - will go ahead despite criticism. |
| NSW's deputy premier broke ranks with the rest of the state government on Monday when he said cancelling the fireworks should be a "very easy decision". | NSW's deputy premier broke ranks with the rest of the state government on Monday when he said cancelling the fireworks should be a "very easy decision". |
| "If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," said John Barilaro. "We're all in this crisis together." | "If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," said John Barilaro. "We're all in this crisis together." |
| More than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for fireworks to be cancelled and the money spent on fighting fires. | More than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for fireworks to be cancelled and the money spent on fighting fires. |
| Yet the city's authorities say the cancellation would have little practical effect on affected communities. | Yet the city's authorities say the cancellation would have little practical effect on affected communities. |
| Details of a bushfire relief fund will be projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the night. | Details of a bushfire relief fund will be projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the night. |
| Across Australia, the fires have destroyed at least four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. | Across Australia, the fires have destroyed at least four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. |
| On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in NSW would receive compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires. | On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in NSW would receive compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires. |
| Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |