Australia bushfires flare as heatwave brings renewed misery

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Bushfires flared in southern Australia on Thursday as a heatwave expected to bring renewed misery set in, and officials warned some areas are ''just at the beginning'' of the devastating crisis.

Soldiers went door-to-door advising residents to leave the South Australian town of Parndana on Kangaroo Island after a large blaze bore down on the area, with temperatures there soaring to 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).

In neighboring Victoria state, officials extended a ''state of disaster'' declaration for a further 48 hours ahead of scorching temperatures that were due to set in Friday, further stoking massive fires.

''It's a very dangerous and dynamic situation that will confront us over the next 12, 24 and 36 hours,'' Victoria Emergency Management commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

The catastrophic bushfires have killed at least 26 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometers) – an area the size of the island of Ireland.

Scientists say the drought-fuelled blazes are being worsened by climate change, which is increasing the length and intensity of Australia's fire season.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews warned residents to brace for further devastation in what has already been a months-long crisis.

''We're just at the beginning of what will be a really, really challenging summer,'' he said.

Despite cooler weather and rainfall providing some relief in some bushfireaffected areas this week, almost 150 fires were still burning in worst-hit New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, the vast continent's most populated regions.

Vast tracts of the states are facing ''severe'' fire danger Friday, with some areas in Victoria expected to experience ''extreme'' conditions.