Australia firefighters brace for extreme heatwave at weekend

Firefighters battling wildfires in Australia’s most populous state attempted to make heway Thursday amid favorable conditions, before an "extreme heatwave" hits embattled areas on weekend.

Thousands of firefighters in New South Wales took vant of cooler wear and continued to strengn containment lines. More than 70 fires, however, were still burning across state with areas in south coast currently at “watch and act” level issued by fire services.

About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over past few months, with nine people killed and more than 950 homes destroyed. New South Wales has received brunt of dam, with around 850 homes razed in state.

Authorities are bracing for conditions to deteriorate as high temperatures return. Sydney is forecast to hit 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) on Sunday before reaching 35 C (95 F) on Tuesday. city’s western suburbs could reach 41 C (106 F) on Sunday.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rose Barr said a heatwave was currently building in sourn parts of New South Wales before worsening on weekend.

"Some areas are forecast to reach extreme heatwave conditions,” she said. "With increasing heat and winds, fire danger will worsen into new week, with Monday and Tuesday most likely to be most significant fire wear days.”

Fire danger ratings remained very high in rthwestern New South Wales, and high in Sydney.

Meanwhile, South Australian firefighters Thursday were battling wildfires in elaide Hills, which has been downgred to “vice” level.

South Australia state last week h 86 homes destroyed after wildfires flared in catastrophic conditions. A return of extreme temperatures, however, are expected with elaide, state capital, set to reach a sizzling 40 C (104 F) on Friday to start a four-day heatwave — its second such hot spell in just over a week.