BushFire Fear Shuts Schools in Australia

A lack of rain and a predicted change in wind has made conditions the most dangerous in recent weeks.More than 3,000 firefighters are still fighting major blazes following the 7 February firestorm that killed 210 people and left thousands homeless.Temperatures are predicted to rise towards 40C , accompanied by high winds and low humidity.


More than 200 schools have been closed in south-eastern Australia as the government warned of an intensified fire risk ahead of the weekend.The state of Victoria was put on a high fire alert and dozens of fires continue to burn there."We have an extremely dry fuel load, and therefore extreme fire danger," Victoria's state emergency services commissioner Bruce Esplin told reporters.

People in areas near the fires needed to decide early whether to evacuate their homes, or stay and defend their properties, adding it was too late to leave once the flames were in sight.
Many of those killed 20 days ago died in their cars as they attempted to outrun the fires.The country's biggest-ever arson investigation is continuing into the causes of some of the fires.