Massive bushfires ravaging Australia are overwhelming emergency crews

One person died yesterday and another is missing as wildfires continued to wreak havoc in Australia.

Three states are battling bushfires amid a shortage of fire trucks. New South Wales fire chief Shane Fitzsimmons said yesterday was an “awful day”, as temperatures rose to 47C and strong winds worsened conditions.

He added: “Catastrophic fire conditions are as bad as it gets. Given we have a landscape with so much active fire burning, you have a recipe for very serious concern and a very dangerous day.”

A man is missing in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, after towns in the area were hit by an ember attack – when burning vegetation is blown ahead of the main blaze and starts new fires.

Senior fire officer Rob Rogers: “We can’t guarantee that every time someone wants a fire truck we are going to have someone there. So don’t be expecting a fire truck to be there. We’ll do our best but do not rely on that. Don’t wait for a warning. Think about what you’re going to do if you’re in the path of these fires.”

In South Australia one person was found dead, another was critically injured and 15 homes were destroyed 25 miles east of the state capital of Adelaide.

Around 7.4 million acres of land has burnt nationwide since September, with nine people killed and more than 800 homes destroyed.

Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan told the BBC: “The fires we’re experiencing now with climate change are mega fires.

“We are ground zero for the climate change catastrophe. It’s happening here today.”