SYDNEY — Swathes of southeast Australia were bracing on Thursday for a days-long heatwave that threatens to stoke bushfires that have been burning for months. As firefighters and residents prepared for the heightened danger, the New South Wales (NSW) state government launched a six-month inquiry to examine both the causes of and response to this season’s deadly wildfires. NSW state has been one of the hardest hit by bushfires, which started earlier than usual in September. The severe heat and high winds are forecast to hit NSW and Victoria states from Friday threatening to spark new life into some of the 87 fires burning across the three states or create new blazes. Here are Thursday’s key events in the bushfire crisis:* There were five fires burning in the state of South Australia, 64 in New South Wales and 18 in Victoria.

Source: National Post January 30, 2020 14:26 UTC