Published: January 3,2015
Wildfires continued to push across southern Australia on Saturday, causing major headaches for firefighters and thousands of evacuees.
Although no life-threatening injuries have been reported, dozens have been destroyed by the fires, officials say.
Australia's current climate, with predominantly dry conditions and temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, is exacerbating the fires and making it more difficult to cut them off.
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The worst of the fires was in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, where the flames had destroyed five homes and put hundreds of others at risk, state Country Fire Service spokesman Daniel Hamilton said. Residents of 19 communities had been asked to evacuate as a predicted shift in the winds later Saturday prompted fears the flames could worsen.
The forecast was also calling for increased humidity, which could slow the fire's progress Saturday night, Hamilton said.
"There should be no sense of relief because the temperatures are somewhat lower, or that there are spots of rain about," South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill told reporters in Adelaide. "The situation remains extremely dangerous and our warnings that were issued earlier today must be heeded."
Up to 2,000 firefighters were battling the blazes across the state from the ground and the air, with more than a dozen aircraft dumping water onto the flames. Six firefighters were treated for minor conditions, mainly smoke inhalation, Country Fire Service Chief Officer Greg Nettleton said.
In neighboring Victoria state, firefighters had controlled more than 300 fires since Friday, with only one still considered a danger. One home was destroyed in the blaze in the western Victoria town of Moyston, state Country Fire Service spokesman Mario Xuereb said.
A shift in the weather Saturday afternoon was expected to bring light rain, wind and lightning to the area, which could exacerbate the blaze. The rain wouldn't be enough to quell the flames, and the lightning could spark fresh fires, Xuereb said.
Destructive wildfires are common across much of Australia during the summer months. In 2009, wildfires killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in Victoria.
MORE: Australia Wildfires
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