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 SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Walls of flames 100 feet high swept through parched eucalyptus forests Sunday as several fires raged out of control in southeastern Australia, injuring one man and destroying several homes and seven fire vehicles.
Dozens of people fled their homes north of Sydney — some using boats — as hundreds of firefighters battled flames lapping the edges of the city. Authorities on Sunday closed the main freeway heading north from the city as a huge pall of gray smoke drifted across the area, but the road reopened Monday following overnight rains that helped bring the fires under control.
"Today will be fine, with no problems at all, but what we're looking at is three or four days ahead in case it does warm up again we need to make sure this fire is thoroughly contained," New South Wales state Rural Fire Service spokesman Cameron Wade told Macquarie Radio.
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