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The fire authorities called the conditions catastrophic
an official term they use to describe the combination of heat
wind and dry vegetation likely to produce devastating wild fires
Temperatures across New South Wales rose above 40 degrees Celsius
more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Winds picked up speed
increasing the risk of flames being spun
from one area to another
We are being confronted with a situation
where up to three areas are deemed to be catastrophic
in terms of the fire conditions
In fact 90% of New South Wales is being deemed to be severe
At one stage there were more than 140 separate wild fires
across the state of New South Wales alone
Despite the best efforts of fire-fighters and water bombing helicopters
40 of those got out of control
And there were wild fires across the neighbouring state of Victoria too
People were forced to leave their homes as flames neared
Australians know all too well the danger these fires compose
on Friday and over the weekend
wild fires in the island state of Tasmania destroyed dozens of homes
and had people running into the sea to escape the flames
4 years ago more than 170 people died across the southern state of Victoria on one black Saturday
A big enquiry into those fires looked into why those who died did
Its recommendations have been part of the preparations and reactions this time around
In Sydney the heat causes its own problems
Zoo animals cooled off with flavoured blocks of ice
Swimming pools proved popular both in the suburbs and for some office workers in the city
Although cooler weather forecast for Wednesday will bring relief to Sydney
on its own it won't put out the rural areas fires
Battles with the flames will go on for days
The state of New South Wales has never faced conditions more likely to produce wild fires
but nor have the people who live here been as prepared as they are now for them
The hope is that that proves enough
Andrew Thomas , Aljazeera, Sydney