State of emergency in Australian state as fires rage out of control in heatwave

NEW SOUTH Wales, Australia’s most populous state, has declared a state of emergency as 100 wildfires rage and temperatures reach 108F.

Around 2,000 firefighters are battling the blazes, half of which are out of control. They are being helped by US and Canadian backup teams and personnel from the Australian Defence Force.

The last state of emergency ran for seven days in mid-November amid “catastrophic” fire risk and was the first implemented in NSW since 2013.

Central Sydney reached a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius (102

Fahrenheit) on Thursday, while outer suburbs scorched at 42 Celsius (108 F).

A statewide total fire ban announced on Tuesday will remain in place until midnight on Saturday.

Wildfires are also burning in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Around three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land has burnt nationwide during a torrid past few months, with six people killed and more than 800 homes destroyed.

The annual Australian fire season, which peaks during the southern hemisphere summer, started early after an unusually warm and dry winter.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “With extreme wind conditions, extreme hot temperatures, we have a good idea, a good sense, of where the most concerning areas are, but again when you’ve got those turbulent conditions, embers and spot fires can occur very unpredictably.”

Sydney’s air pollution levels on Thursday ranged from poor to hazardous. During the past month, hazardous smoke has often blanketed Australia’s most populous city and made its iconic skyline barely visible. Hospitals have recorded a 10 per cent increase in visits from patients with respiratory conditions during the past week.

The Australian Medical Association has recommended people keep hydrated, cool and out of the sun.