The state of New South Wales, where 367 homes have been lost in the past week, reported 56 fires burning with about half yet to be contained, fire services said. “We are expecting to see a worsening of conditions, particularly as we start heading into Tuesday and then continuing through Wednesday and Thursday again,” New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. “Until we get significant rainfall, the fires will not go out,” Queensland acting Fire and Emergency Commissioner Mike Wassing said in televised remarks. Meanwhile, an Australian man has been accused of starting a fire to protect his cannabis crop, sparking an out-of-control bushfire. Police said a 51-year-old man appeared before a local court on Saturday charged with intentionally lighting a fire at Ebor in New South Wales state in an attempt to protect his cannabis crop.

Source: Taipei Times November 17, 2019 16:07 UTC