Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 3,000 firefighters were available to fight more than 50 fires blazing across the state. The fires are expected to worsen as winds are forecast to gust at between 70 kmh (43 mph) and 90 kmh (56 mph) later Tuesday. But by early afternoon, emergency warnings applied to seven blazes that were burning out of control in the fire-ravaged northeast. More than 600 schools and technical colleges were closed because they are close to woodlands at risk of fire. The Australian fire season, which peaks during the Southern Hemisphere summer, has started early after an unusually warm and dry winter.

Source: thestar November 11, 2019 22:59 UTC