Torrid temperatures and high winds Sunday whipped up more than 250 forest fires in the south of Australia, according to DPA. Blazes were burning out of control in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania despite the best efforts of thousands of volunteer fire fighters and fleets of water-bombing aircraft. At Latrobe near Melbourne the pilot of a water-bombing helicopter that crashed while coming into refuel walked away from the wreck without injury. Efforts to contain so many bushfires are hampered by high winds and record temperatures. Adelaide, with four days above 40 degrees, has experienced its hottest spell in 66 years. More than 4,000 Adelaide homes were without power after fire brought down power lines. In south-eastern Victoria a battle was on to save the township of Yallourn North from a ring of fire. "People are a little frightened," Yallourn North firefighter Alister Budge told Australia's AAP news agency. "Most people are keeping an eye out for hot embers falling." At Anakie, near the Victorian town of Geelong, two houses have been lost. Victorian Country Fire Authority deputy chief Graham Fountain said it would be days before firefighters had gained the upper hand.
