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Fire threat to Australia's Blue Mountains 'averted' Fire threat to Australia's Blue Mountains 'averted'
(35 minutes later)
Australian fire officials say the threat to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney "has been averted" for the day, but warn the crisis is far from over.Australian fire officials say the threat to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney "has been averted" for the day, but warn the crisis is far from over.
Residents should be able to return to their homes later on Wednesday, New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.Residents should be able to return to their homes later on Wednesday, New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
But Mr Fitzsimmons warned that fresh challenges lay ahead in the coming days amid unfavourable conditions.But Mr Fitzsimmons warned that fresh challenges lay ahead in the coming days amid unfavourable conditions.
In total, 71 fires are burning across the state, 29 of which are uncontained. In total, 73 fires are burning across the state, 29 of which are uncontained.
Emergency alerts remain in place for two areas - near the city of Newcastle, north of Sydney, and in Springwood, to the west. Meanwhile, a fire service investigation has concluded the largest of the fires in the Blue Mountains - State Mine near Lithgow - was caused by explosives training at an army range at Marrangaroo.
"The investigation has concluded the fire started as a result of exploding ordinances," a Rural Fire Service spokesman said.
Commenting on the revelations, New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell said he did not want it to detract from the army's efforts "made over the past week in assisting the state's emergency services battle these fires."
Fire officials had warned that Wednesday's combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds could lead to more devastation.Fire officials had warned that Wednesday's combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds could lead to more devastation.
Hundreds of homes have already been destroyed as more than 3,000 firefighters battle to contain the bushfires in Australia's most populous state.Hundreds of homes have already been destroyed as more than 3,000 firefighters battle to contain the bushfires in Australia's most populous state.
'Stay vigilant''Stay vigilant'
The Blue Mountains, a popular tourist area west of Sydney, has been worst hit, with three huge fires burning in the region since Thursday. State Mine has been one of three huge fires ravaging the Blue Mountains, a popular tourist area west of Sydney, since Thursday.
A state of emergency was declared at the weekend.A state of emergency was declared at the weekend.
Fire crews have been trying to contain the fires with a combination of aggressive back-burning, building lines of containment and strategic planning. Fire crews have been trying to contain the fires with a combination of back-burning, building lines of containment and strategic planning.
On Tuesday, they merged two of the fires - State Mine near Lithgow and Mount Victoria - in order to prevent them linking up with the third. On Tuesday, they merged the State Mine fire with one at Mount Victoria to prevent them linking up with the third.
Shane Fitzsimmons said the strategy had worked. "It is absolutely wonderful it did not run," he said of the merged blaze. Shane Fitzsimmons said on Wednesday the strategy had worked. "It is absolutely wonderful it did not run," he said of the merged blaze.
"If you have been someone that has chosen to depart the Blue Mountains today, to be out of harm's way, then it would be safe to head back home tonight because the risk has been averted," he said on Wednesday. "If you have been someone that has chosen to depart the Blue Mountains today, to be out of harm's way, then it would be safe to head back home tonight because the risk has been averted," he said.
But he warned people to remain extra-vigilant. But he warned people to remain extremely vigilant.
"There are still fires flaring up, impacting on communities," he said. "There's every prospect we're going to see some more." "There are still fires flaring up," he said. "There's every prospect we're going to see some more."
Emergency alerts remain in place near the city of Newcastle, north of Sydney. An earlier emergency alert in Springwood, to the west, has been downgraded to a watch-and-act alert.
Earlier, new Prime Minister Tony Abbott hit back at comments by UN climate chief Christiana Figueres linking bushfires to global warming and criticising his decision to repeal a tax on carbon emissions introduced by the previous government.
"The official in question is talking through her hat," Mr Abbott told local media.
"Climate change is real, as I've often said, and we should take strong action against it. But these fires are certainly not a function of climate change - they're just a function of life in Australia."
Mr Abbott, who took office in September, has drafted legislation to repeal the carbon tax, which imposed a levy on the country's 300 biggest polluters.
The new prime minister, who says the tax cost jobs and forced energy prices up, wants to introduce a Direct Action plan under which farmers and industry will be paid to act to reduce emissions.
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