"Thousands of Australians were urged to evacuate their homes on Wednesday as dry winds threatened to fan a firestorm in mountainous bushland around Sydney, where firefighters battled to control blazes which have been raging for a week."

"More than 200 homes have been destroyed in New South Wales (NSW) state since last Thursday, when bushfires tore through Sydney’s outskirts, razing entire streets. One man died from a heart attack while trying to save his home.

Wednesday’s fire conditions were shaping up as the worst so far, prompting authorities to warn of more property losses and advise residents of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney to abandon their homes."

Reuters had the story October 23, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Investigators: Military Exercise Sparked Largest of Wildfires Ravaging Australian State" (AP) [3]

"Australian Fire Crisis Eases, Blazes Still Threaten Small Towns" (Reuters) [4]

"Australian Army Started Bushfire Blazes, Climate Also Blamed" (ENS) [5]